Author: chris

In order to support a free public education system for all children, citizens must combine resources to sustain the effort. Throughout U.S. history, educational funding paradigms have shifted as the result of a variety of economic and philosophical factors. According to our course text (p. 310), a variety of fiscal trends are impacting today’s schools. These trends are causing a depletion of funding that is causing schools to drastically tighten their budgets.

For this discussion, imagine that you are a consultant asked to provide a struggling district with strategies for making the most of their decreasing budget. Recommend one strategy for streamlining the budget that will both support student achievement and accommodate a shrinking budget. See pages 311-313 for some ideas/strategies on how to address this issue and provide optimal advice for the district.

Now that you have provided your students with some direction on how to find good materials online, you must do some basic instruction on how to use that material. In any content area, students are gathering and using Web-based information. Therefore, teaching the tenets of copyright and fair use is everyone’s job. It need not be big and elaborate; in fact, small, regular doses of instruction are probably more effective. Mini-lessons here and there before starting a research-based project or assignment are a good start.

For this assignment, create a “just-in-time” mini-social/ethical lesson or an at-a-glance resource that you can post in your classroom environment and/or distribute to your students (and parents) that will help students remember the rules of copyright compliance and fair use. These are complex ideas and should be tailored to your target audience and the type of online information gathering they would typically do in your classroom.

Assignment 3: Performance Management

Due Week 8 and worth 300 points

You are the HR manager for an upscale retail store which sells clothing, shoes, handbags, and other accessories. Due to the economic downturn, the company has experienced a significant reduction in earnings, resulting in the layoff of a number of retail sales associates. Business seems to be rebounding, but you are concerned about the performance of the retail sales staff. The CEO has requested that you recommend ways to increase sales and customer service. You believe that implementing a performance management system may help modify employee behavior and improve results.

Write a six to eight (6-8) page paper in which you:

Create a job description for a retail sales associate, which includes the most significant components necessary to describe the job both internally and externally.
Create an organizational behavior modification (OBM) plan to define four (4) key behaviors that are required for successful job performance as a retail sales associate. Suggest the significant ways that your plan will benefit the organization.
Specify two (2) ways that you would measure whether current employees exhibit the key job performance behaviors. Propose two (2) methods that you could use to inform employees of the new performance standards.
Outline a plan with two (2) methods of providing feedback to employees. Include the frequency with which the feedback will be provided. Propose two (2) actions company leaders should take to reinforce positive employee behaviors.
Examine at least three (3) key legal and ethical issues that could potentially impact the performance management system. Support your response with specific examples of the identified issues’ possible effects on the performance management system.
Use at least four (4) quality academic (peer-reviewed) resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not qualify as academic resources.

Review the popular news websites listed in the Current Events required readings section for this week.

Websites Broadcasting System Inc.. (n.d.). CNN.com – Breaking News, U.S., World, Weather, Entertainment & Video News. CNN.com – Breaking News, U.S., World, Weather, Entertainment & Video News. Retrieved November 14, 2012, from http://www.cnn.com

Economist Newspaper Limited. (n.d.). The Economist – World News, Politics, Economics, Business & Finance. The Economist – World News, Politics, Economics, Business & Finance. Retrieved November 14, 2012, from http://www.economist.com LP. (n.d.).

Bloomberg – Business, Financial & Economic News, Stock Quotes. Bloomberg – Business, Financial & Economic News, Stock Quotes. Retrieved November 14, 2012, from http://www.bloomberg.com

In 500 words double spaced… ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS BELOW THOROUGHLY….

1. Has the knowledge you gained been valuable in helping you understand or evaluate events or policies when it comes to managerial economics?

2. Are there any current events in the news that you can directly link to concepts or theories of managerial economics covered so far?

3. Discuss one current event article and explain how economic theory can be applied to analyze the information presented.

Scenario 1

Charlie and Lucy are partners in a book shipping company. Charlie dies. Charlie’s widow calls Lucy and says, “As Charlie’s heir, I am entitled to take Charlie’s place as your partner.” Lucy states, “No, you are not.” The widow states, “ok, then as Charlie’s heir, I am entitled to all of the books in the warehouse.” Lucy states, “No, you are not. All you are entitled to is the value of Charlie’s interest in the partnership property.

Who is correct, Lucy or the widow? Support your answer with material from the readings and/or the applicable law.

Scenario 2

Tim Taylor operates a home improvement business performing various fix-it-up projects, including some car repairs. Tim is well known for his fun personality and quality work, so he has plenty of loyal customers to keep him busy, along with one full time employee, Al. Tim occasionally rents out some of his tools and equipment to friends and clients.

About a year ago, Tim started purchasing foreclosed homes, renovates them and then rents or sells the homes. Some of the homes are financed through various banks.

Tim and his wife, Jill, own a home, in which they have a reasonable amount of equity. Jill manages the books and other accounting responsibilities for the business.

Which type of business organization is best for Tim? Explain the advantages and disadvantages of your selection and why your answer is best based upon the applicable law.

>>>>>>>>> Discussion Question Part II <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Create a new business that you would like to operate. Would you select an LLC, an LLP, or a corporation to form your company? Provide a detailed explanation as to why that entity would be appropriate for you. Support your choice with the applicable law and/or text materials. Search for information related to doing business in FLORIDA and provide the requirements for the option you selected, as applicable

This “Assignment 2” writing assignment is a comparative essay focused on topics encountered in our HUM 111 class. The project will be based on research but will reflect your views and interpretation of the topic. This project is designed to help you stretch your mind and your abilities as an organized, innovative, and critical thinker. If approached properly, it should also be fun!

Choose one (1) of the topics from the list of topic choices below. Read the topic carefully. Write a three to four (3-4) page paper (750-1,000 words) that follows instructions and covers each part of the topic. (The title page and References list do not get included in this word count).

Note: Your instructor may require you to submit your topic choice for approval before the end of Week 5.

For the topic you choose: Must be 3-4 pages

Establish a clear thesis about your topic as part of the introductory paragraph (often the thesis is the last thing one determines after doing the basic research and outline; however it will be placed in the first paragraph of your paper).
This is a comparative essay. Comparison approached properly will require some critical thinking on your part. Use a point-by-point approach for the essay. That means, if comparing subject A with subject B, don’t do the first half of the essay on subject A and then the second half on subject B–that will seem like two (2) separate essays and comparisons will tend to get lost. Instead, you should be mentioning both subjects in most of your paragraphs as you compare them throughout the essay. Comparisons will identify similarities as well as contrasts.
Do not try to do everything on your two (2) subjects. You should end up narrowing your focus to a few insights and issues about the subjects being compared. And, from those fairly specific points of comparison, you will develop a thesis and glean some lessons.
Follow closely the instructions below for your specific topic.
Include a concluding paragraph at the end. This paragraph will, in some way, refer back to the thesis established in your first paragraph, since now you have demonstrated and supported it. It may be here that you also include your observations relating your study to the modern workplace or society (see your topic). Try to finish with flair!
Use at least three (3) good quality academic sources, with one (1) source being the class text. Note: Wikipedia and other similar Websites do not qualify as academic resources. You are highly encouraged to use the Resource Center tab at the top of your Blackboard page.

Topic Choices – Choose just one (1) of the topics below:

Qualities of the Hero: Comparing Gilgamesh and Odysseus. Write an essay comparing these two (2) heroic figures from ancient epics of different cultures, especially focusing your analysis on the sources about their encounters with monsters: Gilgamesh encounters the monster guarding the forest, Humbaba, in Tablets 3-5 of the Epic of Gilgamesh (see http://www.sacred-texts.com/ane/eog/ ). Odysseus encounters Polyphemus the Cyclops in Book 9 of The Odyssey (see http://www.theoi.com/Text/HomerOdyssey9.html; from line 105 to the end). Your paper should:

a) Compare Gilgamesh and Odysseus as to their heroic qualities, noting similarities and differences, using specific examples from the epics.

b) Summarize what this indicates about differences between ancient Mesopotamian and Greek cultures in their ideals and expectations.

c) From this comparison, suggest ways that current cultural ideals and expectations shape modern notions about role models and heroes.

Write a three to six (3-6) page paper in which you:

Summarize two (2) articles you selected from the NPR Website. The two (2) article must be from within the last two (2) months.
Describe the major adjustment issues discussed in each story.
Examine at least three (3) evidence-based strategies from each of the selected articles that could help the individuals in each article enhance their adjustment skills.
For each article, recommend the evidence-based strategy that is best suited for the people in the selected articles. Provide a rationale for your response.
Use at least four (4) quality academic resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and other similar websites do not qualify as academic resources. Each of your selected articles (2) is a source and your textbook should be used as a source. One additional academic source is required for a total of four (4) sources.

Environmental Pollution Scenario Review and Summary

You are an associate-level environmental scientist in a large urban city. The growing human population within the city increases pressure on the infrastructure and natural resources, affecting the environment. As cities expand, they cut deeper into surrounding rural areas, causing environmental problems, such as the loss of wetlands, loss of biological habitats, and air and water pollution. The high density of automobiles, factories, and commercial enterprises in urban areas adds to airborne emissions, including particulate matter, various types of oxides, and hazardous volatile compounds.

Your selected city is experiencing rapid growth in population. The City Council is worried that this pattern of population growth, combined with concerns over climate change, is beginning to create a number of negative environmental, economic, and social consequences. These include deteriorating infrastructure, increasing traffic congestion, declining air and water quality, and the loss of open space. The City Council has charged you with writing a report that will recommend measures to address the pollution issues and reduce carbon emissions.

Make decisions on the optimal measures for addressing the pollution management issue. Choose four of the following measures based on pollution reduction:

Pollution control legislation for point sources

Random emission testing

Encouraging alternative transportation, walking, and bicycle use

Promoting fuel-efficient cars

Establishing green spaces or urban forestry

Improving roads

Encouraging carpooling

Write a 700- to 1,050-word summary briefly describing the background information and details. Include the following information:

Describe your selected measures.

From an environmental science and climate change perspective, describe the potential effectiveness of your selected measures.

Trade-offs for the various pollution reduction measures, including potential improvements in human and ecosystem health: For example, bringing in legislation to install pollution control devices in factories may sound like an effective choice, but installation of such devices is a huge expense, and there is likelihood of strong opposition by business groups.

Explain the following statement: “Decision-making about environmental issues necessitates the maintenance of a fine balance between the effectiveness of measures and the public reaction towards them.”

Material Items in Liabilities and Equity

Because liabilities and equity are material items on a company’s balance sheet, auditors look at these areas very closely. You will demonstrate your understanding of audit tests over different aspects of liabilities and equity i n your response to this Assignment.

The questions listed below are found in Chapters 14 and 15 of Principles of Auditing. Answer the questions and submit your work to the instructor as outlined below.

Problems: 14–37
Problems: 14–38
Questions Requiring Analysis: 15–30
Objective Questions: 15–32

Suppose you are a consultant to a fast food chain. The fast food chain is interested in measuring the population variance in the number of customers it has on a daily basis in all its stores in the U.S. However, it is limited in its ability to track this number across all stores and has to select a sample. Think critically about the following questions:

1. There are two estimators for the population variance with different levels of bias and variance. Explain how you would go about choosing between these two estimators.

2. You are interested in coming up with a 95% confidence interval for the population variance. How would you go about deciding the number of outlets to sample?