Writing Question

PART A BB 2012

Apply leadership strategies to communicate with your team and inspire them either through an email, a brochure, or a one-minute speech.

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Introduction

You know strong leadership when you see it, but can you say why a certain leader is great and another lacking?

The path to understanding leadership can be a mix of trusting your instincts and understanding principles and practices common to effective leaders. You will look at the basics and examples of great leaders and leadership. In this course, you will gain a deeper understanding of the role of leadership, including communication skills.

You will also explore Kouzes and Posner's Five Practices of Effective Leadership, focusing on inspiring a shared vision. This concept involves the leader imagining the future and encouraging their team members to follow.

Overview

Great leaders know how to motivate and inspire their teams.

For this assessment, use the concepts presented in the Lessons in Leadership activity to identify a leadership style and shape the inspirational practices and behaviors you will use to communicate your vision and motivate your team.

Preparation

Step 1: Choose a topic from the following choices:

• Establishing a Positive Work Environment.
• Leading Remote Teams.
• Celebrating Success.
• Encouraging Open Communication.

Step 2: Choose a format from the following choices:

• Email to Your Team:
  • Length: 1 page (excluding reference page), single-spaced, Arial 12-point font.
  • Template: Email Template [DOCX].
  • Include a reference page.
  • Resource: Visit Assessment Resources to review the following resources that provide guidance on formatting business letters and professional emails:
    • Format of a Formal letter.
    • 5 Tips for Writing Professional Emails.
• Brochure:
  • Length: 2 pages, excluding your title page and reference page, Arial 12-point font.
  • Template: Brochure Template [DOCX].
  • Resource: Visit Assessment Resources to review the following resource that provides guidance on creating a brochure:
    • How to Make a Brochure in Microsoft Word.
• One-Minute Speech:
  • Length: 1 minute.
  • Template: One-Minute Speech Template [PPTX].
  • Resources:
    • For guidance on recording your speech, review Using Kaltura or Using Zoom.
    • Visit Assessment Resources to review the following resources that provide guidance on creating and recording presentations:
      • Basic Tasks for Creating a PowerPoint Presentation.
      • Record a Presentation.
  • Tips:
    • Write out your speech and practice with a timer.
    • Verbally give credit to your sources by using phrases such as “according to so-and-so,” “so-and-so says,” or “so-and-so found.”

Instructions

The purpose of this assessment is to use what you’ve learned to share your vision and inspire your team.

In your assessment, complete the following:

• Choose the leadership style you will use.
• Use your leadership style in your communication (democratic, transactional, transformational, coaching, et cetera). Be consistent.
• Include inspirational leadership practices and behaviors.

Notes:

If you are submitting the email or brochure, Word is the preferred file format. You can upload it as your submission.

Submission Requirements

Your assessment should meet the following submission requirements:

• Communication: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly and professional. Your assessment should be:
  • Clear and logically organized.
  • Free of errors in grammar and writing.

Competencies Measured

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:

• Competency 1: Apply knowledge of leadership traits and styles to real world scenarios.
  • Use a consistent leadership style in communication to inspire action.
• Competency 2: Use accepted leadership practices and behaviors.
  • Utilize inspirational leadership practices to inspire action.
• Competency 3: Communicate professionally using professional standards embracing diversity.
  • The writing is clear and organized with very few grammatical mistakes.
  PART B BB 2012
• Write a paper or record a presentation on leading your team through change.Collapse All

  Introduction

  For this assessment, you will focus on how leaders encourage taking risks and pursuing opportunities. A lot can be told about a leader by the risks they take and the opportunities they seize.You will also explore how leaders promote collaboration and empower their people. How do you get people to work together for a shared vision? Is it a trick? A carrot and stick? Getting people to drink the Kool-Aid? There are many ways, but without giving others the power to act, a leader would end up doing everything themselves.You will be introduced to Kouzes and Posner's (2023) final practices of effective leadership, which they call encouraging the heart. Effective leaders realize that employees should be recognized for a job well done. While some people prefer public praise and others prefer personal recognition, most employees want to be recognized in some way

  References

  Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. (2023). The leadership challenge: How to make extraordinary things happen in organizations (7th ed.). Wiley.

  Overview

  Review the Applying Leadership Styles activity to practice the situational leadership skills that you will need to complete this assessment. Refer to the list of leadership styles and traits to support your work.

  Preparation

  Step 1: Choose a topic from the following list:
  • Technology/Software Updates.
  • Organization Restructure.
  • New Product Launch.
  Step 2: Choose a format from the following list:
  • Academic Paper:
    • Length: 2–4-pages double-spaced page, excluding your title page and references page, Arial 12 pt. font.
    • Template: Leading Through Change Academic Paper Template [DOCX].
    • Resources: Visit the following resources for guidance on academic writing and APA style:
      • Writing Center.
      • Writing Support.
      • Evidence and APA Citation.
    • Tip: Be sure to provide citations for resources within your assessment.
  • Speech:
    • Length: 2–4 minutes.
    • Template: Four-Minute Speech Template [PPTX].
    • Resources:
      • For guidance on recording your speech, review Using Kaltura or Using Zoom.
      • Visit Assessment Resources to review the following resources that provide guidance on creating and recording presentations:
        • Basic Tasks for Creating a PowerPoint Presentation.
        • Record a Presentation.
    • Tips:
      • Write out your speech and practice with a timer.
      • Verbally give credit to your sources by using phrases such as “according to so-and-so,” “so-and-so says,” or “so-and-so found.”
  Step 3. Support your points.
  • Use your textbook to support your points. Cite your textbook at least once in the assessment.
  Citation guidance:
  • Visit In-Text Citation from the Writing Center for guidance on how to cite sources in your writing. Scroll down to “In-Text Citation Formatting."
    • Watch “Getting Started with In-Text Citations” for a short interactive video that provides examples.
  • Tip: Your template has the References page completed; use that reference to help with your in-text citation.
    • Reference: Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. (2023). The leadership challenge: How to make extraordinary things happen in organizations (7th ed.). Wiley.
    • In-text citation: (Kouzes & Posner, 2023, pp. xx).

  Instructions

  The purpose of this assessment is to use what you’ve learned to share how your leadership style and traits can lead your team through change while encouraging collaboration and empowering your team.In your assessment, complete the following:
  • Describe an organizational change needed to help collaboration and empowerment.
    • In addition, describe how your team will identify improvements in the environment.
  • Describe the leadership style and traits needed to address risk associated with the specific organizational change.
    • Describe how your personal leadership traits can be used for the needed change.
    • Include examples of leadership practices to address risk associated with the specific organizational change.
  • Describe how to encourage collaboration resulting in the empowerment of your team.
    • Include specific examples of approaches you will take to encourage collaboration.
  • Describe how to encourage employee engagement with your team.
    • Include specific examples of how you would integrate diversity, engage employees, or build trust.
  Notes:
  • If submitting a paper, Word is the preferred file format to upload as your submission.

  Submission Requirements

  Your assessment should meet the following submission requirements:
  • Communication: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly and professional. Your assessment should be:
    • Clear and logically organized.
    • Free of errors in grammar and writing.
  • Validation and support: Use your textbook to support your points. Cite your textbook at least once in the assessment.
  • APA format: Use APA formatting when appropriate. Refer to the Evidence and APA Citation Campus page for guidance.

  Competencies Measured

  By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:
  • Competency 1: Apply knowledge of leadership traits and styles to real world scenarios.
    • Describe the leadership style and traits needed to address risk associated with the specific organizational change.
  • Competency 2: Use accepted leadership practices and behaviors.
    • Describe an organizational change needed to help collaboration and empowerment.
    • Describe how to encourage collaboration resulting in the empowerment of a team.
    • Describe how to encourage employee engagement in a team.
  • Competency 3: Communicate professionally using professional standards embracing diversity.
    • The writing is clear and organized with very few grammatical mistakes.
    PART C BB 3050
  • DO POWERPOINT WITH NOTES
  • After analyzing the CapraTek: Leading for Change scenario, choose one of the following: record a presentation of your choice (4–5 minute Kaltura video recording), create a 10–12 slide PowerPoint presentation with speaker notes, or create a 10–12 slide PowerPoint presentation with narration to effectively address specified goals.Collapse All

    Introduction

    Change is inevitable in every organization. Innovations and evolving market conditions result in changes whether an organization is ready for them or not. Because not everyone sees the importance of a change at the outset, how the change is communicated requires special consideration. This assessment examines communications as they relate to organizational change.

    Overview

    For this assessment, you will analyze the CapraTek: Leading for Change scenario and create a presentation that effectively addresses specified goals.

    Preparation

    • If you have not yet done so, view CapraTek: Leading for Change.
    • Decide what type of presentation you want to create. You have three options: you can record a Kaltura video, create a standard PowerPoint presentation with speaker notes, or record a PowerPoint presentation with your own audio narration.
      • Kaltura is a Capella-supported tool for recording presentations using a webcam and microphone. If you are unfamiliar with Kaltura, learn more in the Using Kaltura tutorial.
      • Review Crafting Your Presentation: Tips for Creating Your PowerPoint media.
      • Access the Presentation Tools reading list for information about multimedia tools you can use in your assessment.

    Instructions

    After analyzing the scenario presented in CapraTek: Leading for Change, create a presentation that briefly introduces items for your team to consider. In the presentation:
    • Create an appropriate response to the scenario based on a sound analysis of the situation.
      • Communicate your decision on how you plan to address the team's communication issues and concerns about leadership changes (2–3 slides or 1–1.5 minutes).
    • Explain three critical communication issues and challenges faced by the team, including communication issues to date (2–3 slides or 1–1.5 minutes).
    • Describe an action or policy that you will introduce to improve communications and assure people are working with a unified purpose (2–3 slides or 1–1.5 minutes).
      • You may want to consider Tuckman's model for stages of group development and Kotter's change model as you plan to improve the team dynamics.
    • Define your expectations for ethical discourse in team communications (2–3 slides or 1–1.5 minutes).

    Additional Requirements

    Be sure your presentation meets the following requirements:
    • Communication: Although this is not a performance, you will be judged on the communication skills that you have studied in this course including your consideration of audience and content.
      • Organize content for ideas to flow logically with smooth transitions.
    • Format and Length: Content must address all items defined in the scenario and assessment instructions.
      • If you choose to submit a video (Kaltura) or narrated (PowerPoint) presentation, the recorded presentation should be 4–5 minutes.
      • If you choose to submit a standard PowerPoint presentation, your presentation should consist of 10–12 slides, not including the title and references slides.
        • Use the speaker's notes section within the PowerPoint slides to provide all the information relevant to each slide, which you would otherwise present verbally.
        • Each slide must have no more than 4–5 bullets and each bullet should summarize your point in approximately 4–6 words.
        • Use graphics throughout the presentation, but ensure they are appropriate for the content provided and provide value.
    • Quality: Audio and visual quality should approximate that of a properly functioning video conference. Review the Using Kaltura instructions.
    • Visuals (if used): Create visuals that are easily read and interpreted. Use colors, fonts, formatting, and other design principles that make the information clear and generally add to the aesthetic of the presentation.
    • APA style and formatting: Resources and citations are forBusiness Academic Professional Document Guidelines [PDF]matted according to current APA style and formatting standards.
      • Use Academic Writer for guidance in citing sources and formatting your paper in proper APA style. See the Writing Center for more APA resources specific to your degree level.
      • Also refer to the Business Academic Professional Document Guidelines [PDF], which provides basic formatting and APA guidelines you should follow to create attractive and usable documents not just within your business program but in the workplace as well.
    • Academic Integrity and Honesty: You must adhere to academic integrity and honesty policies and incorporate practices that support ethically sound work in your assessments. View Academic Integrity at Capella University: Some Guidelines.
    Before you submit your assessment, carefully read the grading criteria in the Communicating a Team Vision Scoring Guide to ensure you understand all of the requirements for success.

    Competencies Measured

    By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:
    • Competency 1: Analyze business communication situations.
      • Create an appropriate response to the scenario based upon sound analysis.
    • Competency 2: Apply fundamental principles of organizational communication.
      • Create a presentation that effectively addresses specified goals.
    • Competency 3: Analyze the interrelationships of communication within organizational systems.
      • Explain critical communication issues and challenges faced by the team.
      • Describe an action or policy that would likely improve communications and assure people are working with a unified purpose.
    • Competency 4: Analyze the application of ethical principles in organizational communication.
      • Define appropriate expectations for ethical discourse in team communications.
    • Competency 5: Communicate effectively and professionally.
      • Organize content for ideas to flow logically with smooth transitions.
      • Apply APA formatting to in-text citations and references or create a video that effectively addresses specified goals.
      PART D BB 3050
    • DO THE 2-3 PAGE PAPER
    • Choose one of the following: Record a 4–5-minute video, create a 6–8 slide PowerPoint presentation with speaker's notes, or write a 2–3 paper to establish a team vision.Collapse All

      Introduction

      In your previous communication challenge, you resolved a situation that became negative and was getting in the way of a team functioning. In this challenge, you’ve been given a task by your leader, and you need to bring your team along, not only to get past the previous negative communication but to buy into what’s needed to move forward.To do that, you will think about what positive qualities support strong communication and effective teamwork. You’ll need to decide what you want to advocate for. And then you’ll need the communication skills to bring others along on your plan.

      Overview

      Innovation and change within organizations often require establishing not only a vision but specific agreements that a team can work within to be successful. You will get practice establishing just such a policy and communicating it to a team in this assessment. You may choose to submit a video, a PowerPoint presentation with speaker's notes, or a paper as your means of communicating.

      Planning and Preparation

      Consider the following as rough guideposts for setting aside the time you need to do your work. You will want to adjust these as you learn more about your own pace and working style.
      • Research and reading: 4 hours.
      • Interactive activities: 30 minutes.
      • Drafting script or PowerPoint: 6 hours.
      • Revising: 2 hours.
      • Practicing with the technology: 1 hour.
      • Recording: 5 minutes.
      Complete the following:
      • Complete the CapraTek: Organizational Communication Policy activity.
      • If you choose to record your message, this assessment requires you to use Kaltura, a Capella-supported recording tool. You will also need to have access to a webcam and microphone for recording your video. For more information, see Using Kaltura.

      Scenario

      In the CapraTek: Organizational Communication Policy activity, you observed more difficulties, indicating that the team needs your help overcoming their communication challenges. You have resolved to reset the team members’ attitudes so that they clearly understand your approach to future communication strategies and feel invested in the vision that you are laying out for them.

      Instructions

      Remember that a communication policy should be a formal, enforceable document that reinforces ethical behavior and acceptable methods for communication within and about the team. The policy should clearly define all actions and consequences, and you will need to present it in a way that encourages acceptance of the policy by the team. Your goals for this communication include the following:
      • Explain the communication issues that have led to the need for a new policy.
      • Create a communication policy that you will introduce to improve communications and assure people are working with a unified purpose.
      • Define your expectations, or contract, for ethical discourse in team communications.
      • Provide a rationale that addresses the importance of defining appropriate communication channels.
      Choose one of the following for your communication and be sure to cite all sources using APA reference style.
      • Record and submit a 4–5 minute video message using Kaltura to address each aspect of the scenario.
      • Create a presentation of 6–8 slides with speaker's notes, not including title page and references.
      • Write a 2–3 page paper.

      Presentation Guidelines

      Be sure your video meets the following requirements:
      • Communication: Although this is not performance art, you will be judged on the communication skills that you have studied in this course including your consideration of audience and content.
        • Organize content for ideas to flow logically with smooth transitions.
      • Format and length: Address all items defined in the scenario and instructions. Organize ideas to flow logically and with smooth transitions.
        • If you choose to submit a video (Kaltura) or narrated (PowerPoint) presentation, the recorded presentation should be 4–5 minutes.
        • If you choose to submit a standard PowerPoint presentation, your presentation should consist of 6–8 slides, not including the title and references slides.
          • Use the speaker's notes section within the PowerPoint slides to provide all the information relevant to each slide, which you would otherwise present verbally.
          • Each slide must have no more than 4–5 bullets and each bullet should summarize your point in 4–6 words.
          • Use graphics throughout the presentation, but ensure they are appropriate for the content provided and provide value.
        • If you choose to write a paper, it should be 2–3 pages, not including the title and reference pages.
      • Quality: Audio and visual quality should approximate that of a properly functioning video conference.
      • Visuals (if used): Create visuals that are easily read and interpreted. Use colors, fonts, formatting, and other design principles that make the information clear and generally add to the aesthetic of the presentation.
      • APA style and formatting: Resources and citations are formatted according to current APA style and formatting standards.
        • Use Academic Writer for guidance in citing sources and formatting your paper in proper APA style. See the Writing Center for more APA resources specific to your degree level.
        • Also refer to the Business Academic Professional Document Guidelines [PDF], which provides basic formatting and APA guidelines you should follow to create attractive and usable documents not just within your business program but in the workplace as well.
      • Cited resources: Use a minimum of two scholarly sources. All literature cited should be current, with publication dates within the past five years.
      • Academic integrity and honesty: You must adhere to academic integrity and honesty policies and incorporate practices that support ethically sound work in your assessments. View Academic Integrity at Capella University: Some Guidelines.
      Before you submit your assessment, carefully read the grading criteria in the Communicating a Team Policy Scoring Guide to ensure you understand all of the requirements for success.

      Competencies Measured

      By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:
      • Competency 3: Analyze the interrelationships of communication within organizational systems.
        • Explain critical communication issues and challenges faced by the team.
        • Create a communication policy that would improve communications and ensure future communications are handled appropriately.
      • Competency 4: Analyze the application of ethical principles in organizational communication.
        • Define appropriate expectations for ethical discourse in team communications.
        • Provide a rationale that addresses the importance of defining appropriate communication channels.
      • Competency 5: Communicate effectively and professionally.
        • Organize content for ideas to flow logically with smooth transitions.
        • Apply APA formatting to in-text citations and references.
        PART E WB 4044
      • Create a 3–4 page employment analysis for an organization.Collapse All

        Introduction

        In this assessment, you will complete an employment analysis and explore best practices.Employment laws are based on the premise of the existence of an employment relationship. Defining whether an employment relationship exists between an employee and employer can be challenging in today's workplace, because there are so many different forms of employment. Regular, full-time employment used to be the norm. Today, companies hire part-time, temporary, or contract employees; this has impacted the legal rights of the employees performing the work. These alternative work arrangements are often referred to as contingent, or nonstandard, work.It is important for HR practitioners and members of management to understand employment relationships and the classification of employees because this can have a significant impact on the way an employee is paid. This also affects the application of employment laws.This assessment delves into the different types of employment relationships that exist today. Classifying an employee's status can be almost as important as defining the tasks of the job, especially when courts must interpret the law. In this assessment, you will examine the primary types of work agreements—from handshake and contract, to employment-at-will, to temporary employment.When work needs to be done, hiring the right person is usually foremost on the mind of the employer. How that person is classified once hired, typically, is the responsibility of the HR department. Often that classification may become the single most important factor in resolving workplace disputes. In this assessment you will review the various types of hiring considerations.The most prevalent understanding between an employer and an employee is set at the point of hire, by an agreement to pay a certain wage for a given piece of work under certain terms and conditions. The earliest agreements were based on a symbolic handshake and the bond between the two parties. That symbolic handshake is the basis of employment contracts today, but the symbols and terms have changed considerably.In this assessment, you have been tasked as the HR generalist to train new managers on the background to employment analysis. Write a 3–4 page overview based on best practices and approaches for either "Sweet Delights Bakery" or an organization of your choice.In your paper:
        • Describe the different categories of employees (full- and part-time employees, independent contractors, temporary employees, interns, students, volunteers, and partners).
        • Select two main roles in your organization and explain how you determined the employment status of each position. Simply labeling an employee as full time or a contractor does not determine status.
        • Discuss the practices the company should avoid when employing contractors.
        • Analyze two types of protected classes under federal antidiscrimination statutes. Why are these liabilities for the company?
        • Consider neutral requirements or practices in recruitment. Why are these a risk for the company?
        Be sure to communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for members of the HR profession.

        Additional Requirements

        Your paper should also meet the following requirements:
        • Written communication: Ensure written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message.
        • Standard formatting: Include one-inch margins, appropriate headers, and a title page.
        • APA formatting: Resources and citations are formatted according to current APA style and formatting. Review the Evidence and APA section of the Writing Center for guidance.
        • Length: 3–4 typed, double-spaced pages, excluding title page and reference page.
        • Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.
        Review the Employment Analysis Scoring Guide to familiarize yourself with the required criteria for this assessment.

        Competencies Measured

        By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the course competencies through the following assessment scoring guide criteria:
        • Competency 2: Analyze trends and changes in the laws on diversity, gender, and harassment.
          • Analyze two types of protected classes under federal antidiscrimination statutes. Discuss why these are liabilities for the company.
          • Discuss why neutral requirements or practices in recruitment are a risk for the company.
          • Describe the different categories of employees.
          • Select two main roles in the organization and explain how the employment status of each position was determined.
          • Discuss the practices the company should avoid when employing contractors.
          • Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for members of the human resources profession.
          PART F WB 4044
        • Create a 3–4 page paper preparing a manager to hire new employees.Collapse All

          Introduction

          In this assessment, you will prepare a hiring manager to recruit for a position of your choice.Employers often use employment tests to screen applicants and to assist in selecting the most qualified individual for the job. They can be very effective tools. There are many different types of tests, including cognitive tests, credit checks, criminal background checks, and medical examinations.However, it is important to understand the legalities of these employment tests. Their use can violate antidiscrimination laws if an employer uses them to discriminate based on race, color, sex, national origin, religion, disability, or age (40 or older). The use of these tests can also violate antidiscrimination laws if they disproportionately exclude people in a particular protected group, unless the employer can justify the test or procedure under the law.In Assessment 1, you reviewed the categories of positions that you would hire and select for your company. This assessment introduces you to some of the issues that relate to the selection process and to the monitoring of behavior to sustain good decisions and prevent wrongdoing—a key concept in this course on legal issues. You will begin by looking at the details of the law. You will discern which practices are effective and which only cause extra work when working within the intent of the law.

          Employment Policies

          Employment policies are the first topic. Many of the earliest contracts were based on a handshake and the trust between two people. However, not everyone was trustworthy. Therefore, it was natural that a system of checks and balances emerged to bolster the contractual arrangement as well as mediate conflict and punish wrongdoing. It is no different in today's environment. Setting up appropriate criteria and using those criteria to make the best decisions is an ongoing challenge.

          Diversity

          Diversity in the workplace refers to the variety of differences between people within an organization. Diversity encompasses many factors, including race, age, ethnicity, religion, and education. The topic of diversity has had a significant influence on policy and law creation and development, and an organization's success today largely depends on its ability to embrace and manage diversity effectively.In this assessment, you will examine the impact various recruitment methods have in the workplace by discussing the processes used by companies during the hiring process. You are also encouraged to consider affirmative action, diversity, and Executive Order 11236.Preparing for recruitment involves several mandatory steps to prevent liabilities to the agency. This includes considering recruitment methods, screening exams, and background checks. However, it is important to understand the legalities of these processes. Their use can violate antidiscrimination laws if an employer uses them to discriminate based on race, color, sex, national origin, religion, disability, or age (40 or older). Unless the employer can justify the test or procedure under the law, the use of these tests can also violate antidiscrimination laws if they disproportionately exclude people in a particular protected group.For this assessment, as the HR director of "For The People IT Design Center" or your selected organization, prepare the hiring manager to recruit for a position of your choice.In a 3–4 page paper:
          • Compare the different types of recruitment methods. Select one to use in your company and describe why this is your chosen method.
          • Compare two different employment screening exams required for job-relatedness and business necessity.
            • How will you show evidence of job relatedness (validity) for each test?
            • What is the purpose of content validity tests?
          • Analyze the legalities of the employment screening exams used during the hiring process.
          • Discuss the policies and practices that should be in place for internal candidates applying for the position.
          • Describe inadvisable preemployment inquiries as you are preparing for the interview phase. Explain how these could lead to hiring liabilities and what policies you will have in place to avoid any perceived risks.
          • Describe what should be included in the offer to the selectee. Describe your documentation process and explain how long documents should be retained.

          Additional Requirements

          Your paper should also meet the following requirements:
          • Written communication: Ensure written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message.
          • Standard formatting: Include one-inch margins, appropriate headers, and a title page.
          • APA formatting: Resources and citations are formatted according to current APA style and formatting. Review the Evidence and APA section of the Writing Center for guidance.
          • Length: 3–4 typed, double-spaced pages, excluding title page and reference page.
          • Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.

          Competencies Measured

          By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the course competencies through the following assessment scoring guide criteria:
          • Competency 1:Examine the effect of the employment process on current work environments.
            • Compare the different types of recruitment methods. Select one to use in the company and describe why this is the chosen method.
            • Discuss the policies and practices for internal candidates applying for the position.
            • Compare two different employment screening exams required for job-relatedness and business necessity. Discusses how it will show evidence of job relatedness (validity) for each test. Discusses the purpose of content validity tests.
            • Analyze the legalities of the employment screening exams used during the hiring process.
            • Describe what should be included in the offer to the selectee, describe the documentation process, and explain how long documents should be retained.
            • Describe inadvisable preemployment inquiries, explain how these could lead to hiring liabilities, and include the policies that have to be in place to avoid any perceived risks.
            • Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for members of the human resources profession.
            PART G WB 4044
          • Create a 3–4 page paper developing a compensation and benefits plan for potential new hires.Collapse All

            Introduction

            In this assessment, you will develop a compensation and benefits plan for potential new hires.Your challenge is to review pay and benefits issues as they relate to the law and why it is necessary for hiring managers to understand these policies. You will review the issues of pay and benefits and how they can be some of the most prevalent issues in human resources today.

            Pay and Benefits

            Fair compensation for a fair day's work seems a relatively straightforward concept, but it only takes one glance at a newspaper to see that the stories of inflated chief executive pay, lost pensions, and deferred benefits have become serious concerns.This assessment examines how these policies are administered and the decision-making process behind them. While many may have been embroiled in the topic of how much CEOs are paid, you will be more concerned with how the payment structure was set up, who decided it, and whether it was within the policies of the organization and the laws protecting every employee in their employee agreement.

            Employment Law Violations

            It seems that one of the most widely publicized employment law violations relates to companies who fail to properly pay overtime to their employees. We see commercials on television related to this topic, and well-known companies are often in the news for violating this law.Most employers are required to pay overtime according to federal and state law. Overtime is 50 percent of the employee's hourly wage, which means the employee is paid "time and a half" for each hour of overtime worked. There are many exceptions to overtime laws, but generally speaking, employees eligible for overtime are "nonexempt" employees, and those not eligible for overtime are "exempt" employees.Most state and federal laws set a weekly overtime standard. This means that non-exempt employees who work more than 40 hours per week are to be paid overtime for all time worked above 40 hours. Some states (such as California) have daily overtime standards in addition to the weekly standards. This means that non-exempt employees are paid overtime for all time worked above eight hours per day, even if they do not work 40 hours in a week.It is essential for HR practitioners, and all members of management, to understand how to properly classify employees and accurately record their time to avoid these types of violations. The laws are complex and can be somewhat confusing because of the number of exceptions to the rules.In addition, HR practitioners are involved in ensuring appropriate compensation for employees. Understanding the employees’ job duties, the knowledge and skills needed to perform those duties, and their market value is essential knowledge for HR practitioners.For this assessment, as the new owner of the "Aqua Irrigation Force" or your selected organization, you will need to develop the compensation and benefits plan for your potential new hires. As a franchise, you have just opened your company in a residential area and need to hire new workers. You will need to consider the location and the size of the company to complete this task.In a 3–4 page paper:
            • Select a position and determine the roles and responsibilities that are required.
            • Explain the law that regulates paying minimum wage and overtime pay, considering that determining an employee's salary is a significant factor for any position. Explain the law that regulates paying minimum wage and overtime pay. Address the following in your analysis:
              • What is the minimum wage in your community where the Aqua Irrigation Force, or your selected company, is located?
              • What is the requirement for the employer regarding pay when employees need to work more than 40 hours in a week?
            • Describe the benefits that a company has to provide to an employee.
              • Explain the duties of a fiduciary and the role this plays in your company.
              • Discuss the requirements for companies that offer pension plans.
              • Describe wellness plans. What should they offer and what benefits do they provide to both companies and employees?

            Additional Requirements

            Your paper should also meet the following requirements:
            • Written communication: Ensure written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message.
            • Standard formatting: Include one-inch margins, appropriate headers, and a title page.
            • APA formatting: Resources and citations are formatted according to current APA style and formatting. Review the Evidence and APA section of the Writing Center for guidance.
            • Length: 3–4 typed, double-spaced pages, excluding title page and reference page.
            • Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.

            Competencies Measured

            By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the course competencies through the following assessment scoring guide criteria:
            • Competency 1: Examine the effect of the employment process on current work environments.
              • Select a position and determine the roles and responsibilities that are required.
              • Describe the benefits that a company has to provide to an employee.
              • Explain the law that regulates paying minimum wage and overtime pay. Discuss the minimum wage or requirements for pay over 40 hours a week.
              • Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for members of the human resources profession
              PART H WB 4044
            • Create a 3–4 page paper preparing a manager with the necessary documents required when considering terminating an employee.Collapse All

              Introduction

              In this assessment, you will prepare a manager with the necessary documents required to terminate an employee.Wrongful termination occurs when employment is terminated for illegal reasons or if company policy is violated when the employee is fired. HR practitioners and members of management need to be informed about how to properly handle the termination process to ensure that the employee's rights are not violated, and to ensure that the organization avoids a potentially costly wrongful termination lawsuit.Generally, most employees are considered to be covered under the contractual "employment at will" relationship (except those covered by a collective bargaining agreement), which means an employer can terminate employment at any time, for any reason. However, wrongful termination can exist if discrimination is involved in the termination decision or if due process is not followed during the termination process.During this assessment, you will explore topics related to termination in the workplace. You will consider what is permissible under the law as a rationale for termination and you will consider termination as it relates to employment at will versus contract relationships. You will also consider the impact of employment at will and the effect it has on an employer's liability for wrongful termination.In this assessment, you will review the employment laws considered for each of the topics presented in this course. Termination is never easy for anyone involved, but at times is necessary for the efficiency of the company. In this scenario, as an HR generalist, you have been tasked with preparing a manager with the necessary documents required to terminate an employee.Consider the following scenario:Sam has been an employee with the agency for almost a year. He is often late for his shift and his work products are less than stellar. He often gets into verbal arguments with coworkers and has been warned several times about his conduct. The manager now informs you that while in his office he heard a loud bang. He went to investigate only to realize that Sam had smashed his computer on the floor because he could not get an application to work. The manager felt that Sam has violated company conduct policies and wants to terminate him.In a 3–4 page paper:
              • Describe constructive discharge. How does this differ from wrongful termination?
              • Analyze the policy and procedure used in the event of an employee termination.
              • Describe the elements of due process and just cause. Do you feel that all employers should meet these standards before terminations can take place?
              • Explain whether the employment-at-will with exceptions standard provide sufficient protection for employees.
              • Explain the process to ensure employees' rights are not violated.
              • Discuss the steps the manager should follow after a termination decision has been made, and how the termination should be handled.

              Additional Requirements

              Your paper should also meet the following requirements:
              • Written communication: Ensure written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message.
              • Standard formatting: Include one-inch margins, appropriate headers, and a title page.
              • APA formatting: Resources and citations are formatted according to current APA style and formatting. Review the Evidence and APA section of the Writing Center for guidance.
              • References: A minimum of three scholarly references.
              • Length: 3–4 typed, double-spaced pages, excluding title page and reference page.
              • Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.

              Competencies Measured

              By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the course competencies through the following assessment scoring guide criteria:
              • Competency 1: Examine the effect of the employment process on current work environments.
                • Analyze the policy and procedures of employee termination.
                • Describe the differences between constructive discharge and wrongful termination.
                • Describe the elements of due process.
                • Explain employment-at-will procedures.
                • Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for members of the human resources profession.