ACTIVITY 6

MB650 Legal Issues of Employment

Assignment #6: Affirmative Action and Racial Discrimination

Activity 6: Diversity Plan (100 Points)

Write a diversity plan for a fictitious company. Feel free to use the law firm of Dewey, Seward & Howe if you wish. You should address policy and training components of diversity initiatives and make three (3) specific recommendations on how to implement the program. Be sure to address who will implement the recommendations and how they will be implemented.

Begin by researching academic, business, human resources, and legal literature for information on diversity plans and initiatives. You may also gather information from companies that have posted diversity information on their websites. Reference at least five (5) articles relevant to the topic in your response. You may also draw on your own experiences as well as on the information in your textbook.  

Your Activity responses should be both grammatically and mechanically correct, and formatted in the same fashion as the Activity itself. If there is a Part A, your response should identify a Part A, etc. In addition, you must appropriately cite all resources used in your response and document in a bibliography using APA style.  (100 points) (A 4-page response is required.) 

Grading Rubric

Please refer to the rubric on the following page for the grading criteria for this assignment.

Assume for this assignment that you are being highly considered for a director-level HR management position for a best-in-class national retailer. You are in the final phase of the interview process and must respond to the interview panel regarding specific questions and scenarios that will help them determine if you are a good fit for the new role. The company’s culture is centered on the effective development of strategy, plans, and selection criteria aimed at building and sustaining a competitive and profitable organization. It will be extremely important that you respond with a strategic mindset in order to convince the organization you are able to help them ensure the execution of the business strategy. 

Write a six to seven (6-7) page paper in which you: 

• Analyze different types of strategies (cost leadership, differentiation, and focus/niche) and select which one you would deem more appropriate for an “efficiency-minded” retail organization and explain your rationale. How would the selected strategy ultimately affect how HR does its job? 
• Examine the four (4) approaches to job design/redesign and provide an example (not a definition) of each. Then, make a case to the interviewing panel on the importance of effective job design applications in supporting the overall strategic goals of the organization. 
• Consider challenges and constraints associated with recruiting workers and identify and discuss at least two (2) issues. What advice would you give to ease your selected issues? Be specific. 
• List and describe 2–3 candidate selection process ideas that might add value and overall effectiveness to the process. HINT: http://www.selectinternational.com/blog/bid/147051/5-Tips-for-Designing-an-Effective-Employee-Selection-System. Also, what problems should HR and management teams avoid during the selection process? 
• Use a minimum of 3 academic quality references at least 1 being the assigned course textbook (required).

Format your assignment according to these formatting requirements: 

1. Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions. 
2. Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment (with running head), the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length. 
3. Include a reference page. Citations and references must follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length. Use the Strayer University Library at https://research.strayer.edu to locate additional sources to support your work. 

The specific course outcomes associated with this assignment are:  

• Assess the strategic role of human resource management and the components that provide a competitive advantage to the organization. 
• Examine the human resource management functions of recruiting and selecting, and their importance to business strategy. 

Although standardized tests are widely used today in America’s schools, many may not be aware of how these tests are created.

Your course text the explains the general process of developing a standardized test. For this assignment, your task is to use the information provided in your text to create a flowchart, which is a type of diagram used to visually represent some kind of process. These flowcharts can be made using Word or PowerPoint. Your flowchart will need to represent each of the steps required to develop a standardized test, and for each of the steps you will need to include a graphic of some type and compose a paragraph describing what happens at that point in the process. You can either include the paragraphs in your flowchart if space/design permits, or you can include the descriptions on a separate piece of paper, but be sure to include the important terminology associated with each.  

In addition to the paragraphs for your flowchart, include an another paragraph describing what standardized test used in public schools in your state/local area, along with a short description of it. You might find it helpful to begin your research on your state’s department of education website.

APA requirements for this assignment are as follows: Title page (no headings need to be included); pages numbered; overall APA formatting with one inch margins, double spacing, and recommended font; reference page with correct information if you use something other than the Bible or your textbook for this course.

SWOT Analysis and Course Summary”  Please respond to the following:

• Create a SWOT analysis of the usefulness of talent management in general. List the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) that could propel an organization toward the creation of a specific method to identify and develop the talent within the organization.
• Using 140 characters or less (the length of a Tweet), summarize the importance of this class to someone unfamiliar with the concepts.

Have you or someone you have known ever been in a situation where there was a major disaster declaration? If not, imagine that you were involved in one. Give an example of a federal grant program made available in that situation and how it assisted with the recovery process. Do you feel the resources were timely and adequate? Why, or why not? 

Your journal entry must be at least 200 words. No references or citations are necessary.

Part 4: Develop a Training or Intervention Strategy to Address the Needs

Creating a developmental strategy is the objective of the investigative segment of the project. The strategy may include the following.

1. Training Sessions
   1. Traditional classroom
   2. Simulations
   3. Self-managed strategies
   4. Opportunity to perform
2. Career management systems
   1. Self-assessment programs
   2. Mentoring systems
   3. Action planning
3. Organizational development intervention activities
   1. Team building
   2. Intergroup activities
   3. Survey feedback activities
   4. Education and training activities
   5. Structural activities
   6. Process consultation
   7. Blake-Mouton grid activities
   8. Third-party peacemaking
   9. Coaching and counseling
   10. Career planning
   11. Goal setting
4. System redesign
   1. Search conferences
   2. Confrontation meetings
   3. Strategic planning meetings

Part 5: Determine the Training or Intervention Cost and Quantify Expected Results

The fifth section of the Course Project is conducting a cost-benefit analysis. Training costs must be evaluated against anticipated results. This will only be palatable if, in the initial assessment, specific behaviors and processes and their impacts on the performance of the organization were determined. If so, conducting this final analytical segment should be possible.

Part 6: Develop a Method of Training Evaluation

Once you have completed the training, how will you know whether it has been successful? There are a variety of ways to evaluate training and development programs. Clearly identify the specific outcomes you expect from the project. Then develop a method of evaluating the effectiveness of your project.

Submit your assignment.

See the Syllabus section “Due Dates for Assignments & Exams” for due date information or check with your instructor.

Grading Criteria for Individual Course Project Final Paper (Week 7)

CategoryPoints%DescriptionBackground25 15.6%Acquaint the reader with the organization selected, why it was selected, and the specific division or department of interest. Fully discuss the corporate agenda, its business strategy, its environment, and its objectives. A professional overview of the organizational culture and values should be included in the analysis.Needs Assessment Design, Implementation, and Analysis40 25%Design a needs assessment that analyzes organizational objectives and goals and then examines the factors that affect reaching those goals. Your analysis should look at the organization, person, and task levels. Be sure you fully describe your methodologies, process, and results.Recommended Training Strategy and Design45 28.2%Outline your plan for developing a training model to meet the results of the needs assessment. It is important to recognize that training is not always the most cost effective solution to an organizational problem. Credit will be given for other creative and cost effective developmental modalities other than training. Professional justification is expected for the choices. Clearly outline the desired learning outcomes and include your specific recommended training methods. Fully address any learning environment and transfer-of-training issues.Cost-Benefit Analysis (ROI)25 15.6%Outline the cost of recommended training, the potential Return On Investment (ROI), and the expected results. A plan should be provided on how to justify the costs.Training Evaluation Plan25 15.6%Detail your methods for evaluating the effectiveness of the training after it has been completed. How will the organization know whether the training has been successful?Total Point Value160100%A quality paper will meet or exceed all of the above requirements.Submission Week DueParts of Course ProjectName of ItemDescription of ItemWeek 1 (graded)1ProposalPart 1: Select an Organization to Be StudiedWeek 3 (graded)2Needs Assessment / Organization SurveyPart 2: Conduct a Needs Assessment using an Organization SurveyWeek 5 (graded)3PaperPart 3: Analyze the Data Collected and Identify Training NeedsWeek 7 (graded)4, 5, 6Final Submission

• Part 4: Develop a Training or Intervention Strategy to Address the Needs
• Part 5: Determine the Training or Intervention Cost and Quantify Expected Results
• Part 6: Develop a Method of Training Evaluation

Week 2 Discussion Questions: Job Analysis and Recruiting Methods (Oct 28 – Nov 03, 2020)

Available until Tuesday, November 3, 2020 11:59 PM ESTSubscribe

Discussion One: Review the material presented in the course about how to conduct a job analysis, the various methods for collecting data, and the pros and cons of the various methods. Then, develop a plan to gather data for a job analysis. You will need to a) select the position (a job) to analyze; b) use at least two methods for collecting data; c) collect the data using the methods selected and d) summarize your findings in a short job description and job specification. If you do not have a position in a typical office, retail establishment or production facility you can use, seek out a position from elsewhere. The opportunities could include a server at a restaurant, a service provider in your home, your hair stylist, a sales assistant, the receptionist at your doctor’s office or perhaps your child’s teacher.  Include the following:

1. The position you selected to analyze

2. The methods you selected for gathering data

3. The rationale for why you selected the methods you did

4.  A discussion of your experience in collecting this data

5.  A short sample position description and job specification you were able to design based on the data you gathered.

You may use a word document if you like or provide your proposal in the content of your response window.

Be sure to provide the references for the sources of the information you used to inform your analysis including the material provided in the classroom.

Discussion Two: Complete the following:

a) Summarize and explain the major EEOC laws related to the recruiting process. How can recruiters and hiring managers reduce the risk of adverse impact?

b) Discuss three methods of recruiting to obtain a diverse group of applicants and explain why they are effective.

c) Explain the concept of employment at will.  What are the risks and benefits of employment at will doctrine? How is the employment at will doctrine influenced by EEOC laws?

d) Application: Read the Module 2 Case and in-depth scenario 1. Draft a short memo to the founders of HSS to address the issues with the hiring practices. Specifically, address what laws or regulations may apply, organizational risks and discuss suggestions for how the hiring practices at HSS should be modified. You may use a word document if you like or provide your proposal in the content of your response window.

Be sure to provide the references for the sources of the information you used including the material provided in the classroom.

Make sure to also respond to two students with thoughtful comments. 

Library Research Assignment 5-7 PAGES

• Select two  leadership theories discussed in this course and give a brief summary of  the findings in your research. 
• Provide a critical analysis of scholarly works on this theory (use at least 3–5 scholarly works). 
• Identify conflicts or criticism of the theories found in your work. 
• Determine  if there are gaps in the literature and propose the potential for further scholarly research topics. 
• Compare and contrast different perspectives on the theories. 
• Summarize  your own perspective on the theories. 

Use APA format for your literature review.

Read how to enable Solver (and the Analysis Tool Pack). 

• Microsoft. (2018). Load the solver add-in in Excel (Links to an external site.). Retrieved from https://support.office.com/en-us/article/load-the-solver-add-in-in-excel-612926fc-d53b-46b4-872c-e24772f078ca?ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=US

Complete the example (not the practice problem at the end).

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology. (2013). Optimization methods in management science/operations research (Links to an external site.). Excel Techniques. Retrieved from https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/sloan-school-of-management/15-053-optimization-methods-in-management-science-spring-2013/tutorials/MIT15_053S13_tut03.pdf

Submit your Excel file with the worked solution. 

Part A Explain ten (10) tasks, ten (10) task dimensions, and ten (10) work contexts that are necessary for developing a formal job description. (30 points) Part B Define KSAOs and develop and discuss a listing of the KSAOs needed to successfully support the position. Discuss six (6) knowledge, six (6) skill, and six (6) ability components. (40 points) Part C Write the job description that follows from the development of the job requirements. (30 points)