Case Assignment

Even the most intelligent manager is prone to personal biases and pitfalls that can lead to bad decisions. We all carry biases based on our personal experiences. And we can all fall into various traps that lead to decisions that seem perfectly logical at the time but in retrospect, we see that we should have known better.

In the background materials, including Bolland and Fletcher (2012); Kourdi (2003); and Hammond, Keeney, and Raiffa (2008); several specific decision-making biases and pitfalls are discussed. Collectively these are known ascognitive biases. Some of the common pitfalls and biases discussed in these readings include overconfidence bias, confirmation (self-confirming) bias, sunk-cost bias, framing bias, and hindsight bias.

Carefully review all three of these readings and make sure you understand the different types of biases. Then read through the scenarios below and think about what kind of biases are demonstrated in each scenario. For each scenario, carefully explain which specific bias or biases is demonstrated by the decision and what can be done to avoid this bias in the future. Make sure to pick at least one specific bias that you read about for each scenario, and explain your reasoning. Use references to at least one of the three required readings from the background materials in your discussion of each scenario below. Your paper should be 4–5 pages in length:

1. The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of a corporation is of the strong belief that marketing is not a good use of the company’s money. Someone shows her data from several years ago showing that during a period of high spending on marketing, sales did not go up. She says, “See, I told you marketing is not a good use of our budget!” and cuts the marketing budget to almost zero. Following the cut in the marketing budget, sales also start to drop dramatically. When asked by an employee if the drop in sales is due to the cut in the marketing budget, she says, “No!” and insists there must be a different explanation. What kind of decision-making bias do you think this represents, and why? What steps would you recommend to this CEO to reduce this kind of bias? Support your answer with references to at least one of the three background readings.
2. A CEO decides that he wants to greatly expand the company’s market by purchasing a major rival. This acquisition would double the company’s market share. However, several of his top managers warn him that such a purchase would require the company to take out a huge amount of debt to finance this merger, and that many of these large mergers have failed. They also point out that the organizational culture of the other company is very different and that managing this merger would be very difficult. Nonetheless, the CEO insists that he can overcome the odds and plans to go through with the merger. What kind of decision-making bias do you think this represents, and why? What steps should this leader take to avoid this bias? Support your answer with references to at least one of the three background readings.
3. A CEO wants to purchase a new factory. He is currently deciding between two factories. The owner of Factory A brags that 94% of products produced at the factory are free of defects. The owner of Factory B cautions that his factory has a 5% defect rate but management and staff are working very hard to reduce the rate. The CEO decides to purchase Factory A citing its strong 94% rate of success in producing defect-free products even though Factory B actually has a 95% rate of success. What kind of decision-making bias do you think this represents, and why? What steps should this leader take to avoid this bias?
4. A CEO of an automobile company decides to introduce a new hybrid vehicle using cutting-edge technology. A huge amount of money is spent in research and development as well as advertising. But when the car is completed sales are very slow and the price has to be cut so low that the company is losing money on every hybrid vehicle sold. She is advised to simply abandon the car to avoid further losses in profits, and focus her energy on selling profitable vehicles. However, she insists it is unwise to abandon the hybrid vehicle given that so much money has already been put into the project. What kind of decision-making bias do you think this represents, and why? What steps should this leader take to avoid this bias? Support your answer with references to at least one of the three background readings.
5. Conclude the paper with a discussion about which one of the decision-making biases you think is the most dangerous to a leader, and explain your reasoning.

Assignment Expectations

• Follow the assignment instructions closely and follow all steps listed in the instructions.
• Stay focused on the precise assignment questions; don’t go off on tangents or devote a lot of space to summarizing general background materials.
• Make sure to cite readings from the background materials page. Rely primarily on the required background readings as your sources of information.

Include both a bibliography and in-text citations. See the Student Guide to Writing a High-Quality Academic Paper, including pages 13 and 14 on in-text citations.

 

have a 6-10 page APA style paper due Dec 6 for my  Law class.

Requirements are:

idiosyncrasies of Labor and Employment, administrative, Consumer, and Environmental Law.

elements and defenses for each of the common law torts.

UCC contract law, including contract formation and appropriate remedies for a breached contract.

Using your identified phenomena from Module 1, create a qualitative research design using the grounded theory approach. Identify the following:

1. Research question
2. Sample
3. Data collection method (interview, survey, observation, etc.)

Post your assignment,  by Tuesday, November 10

All written assignments and responses should follow APA rules for attributing sources.

 

Assignment 2: Observer Presence

The lecture on Observation Skills stated, “your involvement and immersion in the study has affected those being studied, your findings, and yourself.”

Analyze how the presence of an observer could impact the study being conducted. Support your findings with relevant research and post your assignment,  by Thursday, November 12

 

Assignment 3: Discussion Questions

By Monday, November 16 go to the Discussion Area and discuss each of the following as they pertain to qualitative research in general, and then discuss each of the following as they pertain or can be applied to your project:

1. Integrity
2. Triangulation
3. Transferability
4. Trustworthiness

Assignment 4: Field Experience

This will involve a non-participant naturalistic observation of a public place. The purpose of this exercise is to provide the student with some firsthand experience with a qualitative data-gathering technique. The exercise focuses on how to make detailed field observations, as well as learning to distinguish between your observations and your inferences and interpretations. (Inferences and interpretations will occur in the Final Project). Naturalist observation is a primary method of data collection in qualitative research, especially ethnography. In some qualitative studies, this important source of data is the basis upon which analyses are possible.

Make notes regarding the atmosphere, the scents, smells, noises, spatial arrangements, activities, movements, interactions, etc. The first phase of taking field notes is to keenly observe and jot down your observations with as little interpretation as possible. Record what you see, hear, touch, and smell.

Usually field notes are initially handwritten. Since your original field notes will not be submitted, and only read by yourself, it is preferable that they are handwritten. Later, they will be written up, typed, and the typed field notes will be submitted. You will likely spend much more time writing up your field notes as you did observing. A great deal of detail can be recorded during the two hours of observation. Write up longer descriptions immediately after leaving the observation site. You should begin writing up your field notes as soon as possible so that detail is not lost or forgotten. Describe as much as you can about the setting. Your field notes should now describe the setting, individuals, interactions, events, and activities in a highly detailed and descriptive manner. Strive for “thick” and rich description. The level of detail should be such that someone who was not there with you would be able to clearly “see” the setting based on reading your description. Also, be reflective and reflexive. That is, include in your field notes your own experiences, thoughts, and feelings.

When writing up your field notes after leaving the setting, create a wide margin on the right side of the page. For now, leave this area blank. Later in the course, for your Final Project, this margin area will be used for notes, comments, coding, themes, interpretations, etc. On the left side of the page will be the write up of your field notes, and the larger-than-normal margin on the right side will allow room for you to later introduce your comments and interpretation of the observed events.

Your typed summary (not to exceed two pages) should include the following identifying information:

• Your name.
• Type of setting.
• Date and time of your observations.
• Why you chose the setting.
• Description of the setting.
• Your observations of the interactions that took place.

Submit your 2-page response as a Microsoft Word document by Tuesday November 17

 

All written assignments and responses should follow APA rules for attributing sources.

Using the South University library or the internet, research on a series of topics that will help you understand the current issues regarding managed care. You can use keywords, such as (but not limited to) managed care, current trends and issues in managed care, pharmacy benefit management, or utilization management. Like many other aspects of health care, managed care is continually changing and evolving to meet current consumer and market demands. This week, you are required to write an essay on the following topics:

• Pharmacy benefit management
• utilization management

Use the following guidelines for developing your eassay:

• Select at least two articles for each topic from the SUO library, and wrote a review for each source of information.
• Present a summary for each topic tying together the information learned about the topic.
• Describe and evaluate the market forces, current trends, and changes in drug benfit programs over the last fifteen years.
• Discuss basic approaches and techniques used in utilization management.
• Analyze the future of utilization management approaches. How might they change and why?
• Justify your ideas and responses by using approaches examples and references from reputable and scholarly texts, websites

Based on your research, summarize your findings on the selected topics and complie your obersvation in a 5 to 6 page microsoft word document.

 

Support your responses with examples.

Solar System and One Planet Presentation

Develop an 8- to 10-slide Microsoft^® PowerPoint^® presentation.

Address the following in your presentation:

• Explain the formation of the solar system.
• Locate an image or draw a cross-section of Earth with descriptions of its geology and atmosphere.
• Locate images and write descriptions of the other terrestrial planets’ geology and atmosphere.
• Describe other kinds of objects (asteroids, comets, and so on) found in the solar system.
• Choose one planet, minor planet, and exoplanet to expand on and contrast to the Earth and other bodies described earlier.

List major points in the slides. Include detailed explanations in the speaker notes section that correlate to each point.

Include videos, audio, photos, diagrams, or graphs as appropriate.

Format any citations in your presentation consistent with APA guidelines.

Submit the Microsoft^® PowerPoint^® presentation assignment with speaker notes.

Readings
Hernando DeSoto, The Mystery of Capital.
Richard McGregor, The Party: The Secret World of China’s Communist Rulers.
Background

In Free to Choose, Milton Friedman makes the case that capitalism, i.e. free markets combined with governments that follow The Do Nothing Policy produce prosperity and freedom. In lecture, production possibilities frontiers were used to show the mechanism by which capitalism produces wealth, i.e. specialization according to comparative advantage and exchange. The history of the 20th century is replete with examples of countries that have followed just such a policy of free market capitalism and experienced large increases in total and per capita wealth plus created stable peaceful political societies characterized by respect for individual rights and maximizing personal freedom, e.g. Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, and, until the communist Chinese takeover, Hong Kong. In the 20th century, countries that were already prosperous and free that continued choosing capitalist systems became more prosperous, e.g. the United States, Western Europe, Canada, and Australia.
A conundrum of the “capitalism produces prosperity and freedom” policy are countries that have capitalist economies but haven’t produced much prosperity and are frequently but not exclusively characterized by bouts of politically based violence and oppressive abusive dictatorships, e.g. most middle eastern countries, most of South and Central America, Mexico, India, Russia, and communist China. In The Mystery of Capital, Hernando DeSoto addresses this conundrum and points out that adopting capitalism is required but not sufficient to produce U.S. and western European levels of prosperity and freedom. DeSoto argues that adopting capitalism isn’t enough. Countries have to choose a capitalist economic system plus do something else.
A corollary of the ““capitalism produces prosperity and freedom” idea is the notion that a country can adopt capitalism and produce prosperity but an oppressive dictator can prevent prosperity from producing freedom for ordinary people. Communist China is an example. Communist China is a brutal dictatorship where individuals do not have basic rights such as free speech, freedom of religion, freedom of association, the right to a fair trial before an impartial jury of their peers, etc., individuals have no say in who rules the countries, and scores of Chinese are routinely harassed, imprisoned, and executed for simply speaking up or expressing an opinion about the situation. Richard McGregor, in The Party, The Secret World of China’s Communist Rulers describes life in communist China where the adoption of capitalism has produced a modicum of prosperity but the Communist Chinese Party is hell bent on preventing the outbreak of freedom and the end of their dictatorship.
Paper Assignment
Section 1. What is the something else that DeSoto argues is necessary for a capitalist economy to produce wealth? Choose and explain one example or counter example used by DeSoto to make his case.

Section 2. Is Communist China a capitalist economy? Use 2 examples from MacGregor to illustrate the capitalist aspects of the Chinese economy and 2 examples show aspects of the Chinese economy that are not capitalist. To what extent does Communist China have that something else. Choose two examples from McGregor that illustrate the extent that the something else exists in Communist China.

Section 3. In your opinion and given your answers in Part 1 and 2, will the dictators in Communist China be successful in using a capitalist system to produce prosperity but deny Milton Friedman’s thesis that prosperity will create individual freedom and the end to dictatorship? Choose an example from McGregor that buttresses your opinion.

The paper assignment asks you to answer very specific questions. It is not a book report or an opportunity to wax eloquent on a subject of your choosing. The assignment is to produce answers to specific questions. Your score will be determined by your answer to these questions and the integration of the examples into your argument.
The paper should be no less than 1500 words (~5pages). There is no maximum length.
The paper should be saved as a Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx filetype) and uploaded to Moodle using the link on the assignment page.
There is Word document available for download on Moodle which can be used as template. Use of the template is not required.
The filename of the paper should follow the following format:
Last Name, First Name-Econ 160 Term Paper Part X, Fall 2015.docx

ssignment 2: LASA 1: Hybrid Car Research Paper

A hybrid car is a motor vehicle that uses two or more different sources of power. In most hybrids, you will find an internal combustion engine in addition to an electrical motor. Depending on how the vehicle is driven and the availability of power, the car uses gasoline and battery power alternately.

In this assignment, you will research five different hybrid cars and evaluate their impact on the environment.

Using the readings for this module, the Argosy University online library resources, and the Internet, do the following:

• Identify the top five most popular choices of hybrid cars. Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each car’s technology, price, manufacturing, and impact on environment. Include the scientific principles involved in the technology.
• Determine which type of car would work best for you and your family. Justify your decision based on your analysis of the five hybrid cars.
• Explain the impact these cars will have on the United States’ economy. Consider the following issues in your analysis: consumer buying, sustainability, recycling, and fuel economy.
• Evaluate the impact that hybrid-car technology has had or could have on the United States’ political relationships with oil-producing countries. Be sure to include an analysis of economic issues such as production, supply, and trade.
• Describe how this technology will influence world politics. Include an analysis of economic issues such as production, supply, and trade.

Support your statements with examples. Use a minimum of six reliable references, two of which should be peer-reviewed articles.

Write a 4–6-page paper in Word format. Apply APA standards to citation of sources. Use the following file naming convention: LastnameFirstInitial_M3_A2.doc.

By Wednesday, November 11, 2015, deliver your assignment to the M3: Assignment 2 Dropbox.

Due Week 6 and worth 125 points

Imagine that you work for a company with an age diverse workforce. You have baby boomers working with millenials. Their backgrounds are different, and how they view work is different. This is causing some friction within the workforce. Before the tension escalates, you need to have a meeting to discuss the issue. Prepare a five to seven (5-7) slide PowerPoint presentation for your staff meeting that addresses this issue and proposes a solution.

Create a five to seven (5-7) slide PowerPoint presentation in which you:

Propose a solution that will relieve friction in your company’s age diverse workforce.

Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:

Format the PowerPoint presentation with headings on each slide and at least one (1) relevant graphic (photograph, graph, clip art, etc.). Ensure that the presentation is visually appealing and readable from up to 18 feet away. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.

Include a title slide containing the title of the assignment, your name, your professor’s name, the course title, and the date.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

Explain effective approaches to the broad spectrum of employee relations, including career development, fostering ethical behavior, discipline, labor relations, and dismissals.

Use technology and information resources to research issues in human resource management.

Write clearly and concisely about human resource management using proper writing mechanics.

Econ Research Paper
Instructions:
Students will complete 3-5 page research paper due Wednesday, December 2, at 8 pm exploring the microeconomic system from the Biblical perspective. Students may choose a specific topic, such as profits, or the overall efficiency of the microeconomic system. Students should cite at least three reliable and appropriately academic sources, not including the Bible although the Bible should be used and cited.  The writing should be formal, with no slang, abbreviations, contractions, etc. and use the MLA style.  The paper’s arguments should be thoroughly developed and should not include the personal opinion of the writer. A paper exhibiting poor grammar can receive a failing grade regardless of the quality of the content.  Students should submit a thesis sentence and at least three potential sources in a drop box by Friday, November 6.
My Additional Suggested Topics
Demand and Supply, Profits, Elasticity of demand, Opportunity cost, Cost of production, etc.