60) Which of the following terms refers to a performance appraisal based on surveys from peers, supervisors, subordinates, and customers?

A) 360-degree feedback

B) team appraisals

C) upward feedback

D) rating committee

E) self-ratings

59) Upward feedback primarily helps top-level managers to ________.

A) protect the firm against biased appraisals

B) implement organizational strategies

C) compare appraisal techniques

D) diagnose management styles

E) document critical incidents

58) Which of the following terms refers to the process of allowing subordinates to rate their supervisor’s performance anonymously?

A) supplemental evaluation

B) downward feedback

C) upward feedback

D) paired evaluation

E) peer evaluation

57) What usually occurs when employees rate themselves for performance appraisals?

A) Ratings are reliable but invalid.

B) Ratings are subject to halo effects.

C) Logrolling leads to unrealistic ratings.

D) Ratings are higher than when provided by supervisors.

E) Ratings are about the same as when determined by peers.

56) In most firms, a rating committee used for performance appraisals consists of ________ members.

A) 1-2

B) 3-4

C) 5-6

D) 7-8

E) 9-10

55) Peer appraisals have been shown to result in a(n) ________.

A) reduction of social loafing

B) reduction of group cohesion

C) decrease in task motivation

D) decrease in group satisfaction

E) decrease in logrolling

54) Which of the following terms refers to several peers agreeing to rate each other highly?

A) social loafing

B) group think

C) logrolling

D) alliance forging

E) impression management

53) Employee performance appraisals are conducted by all of the following EXCEPT ________.

A) peers

B) competitors

C) supervisors

D) subordinates

E) rating committees

52) Who is in the best position to observe and evaluate an employee’s performance for the purposes of a performance appraisal?

A) peers

B) customers

C) rating committees

D) top management

E) immediate supervisor

51) Which of the following would most likely result in a legally questionable appraisal process?

A) conducting a job analysis to establish performance standards

B) basing appraisals on subjective supervisory observations

C) administering and scoring appraisals in a standardized fashion

D) using job performance dimensions that are too clearly defined

E) assigning specific trait names when using graphic rating scales

50) All of the following are considered best practices for administering fair performance appraisals EXCEPT ________.

A) explaining how subordinates can improve their performance

B) clarifying in advance what the performance expectations are

C) basing the appraisal on observable job behaviors

D) using subjective performance data for appraisals

E) training supervisors how to conduct appraisals

49) Which of the following is the primary advantage of using graphic rating scales as performance appraisal tools?

A) eliminates central tendency errors

B) offers extremely high rate of accuracy

C) provides quantitative rating for each employee

D) links with mutually agreed upon performance objectives

E) explains how employees can improve their overall performance

48) Stephanie manages the accounting department at an advertising agency. She needs to conduct performance appraisals for the eight employees in her department. Stephanie wants a performance appraisal tool that is highly accurate, ranks employees, and uses critical incidents to help explain ratings to appraisees. Which performance appraisal tool is best suited for Stephanie?

A) graphic rating scale

B) alternation ranking method

C) forced distribution method

D) critical incident method

E) behaviorally anchored rating scale

47) All of the following guidelines will most likely improve the effectiveness of a performance appraisal EXCEPT ________.

A) maintaining a diary of employees’ performance during the year

B) establishing a tool for employees to appeal performance appraisals

C) using a graphic rating scale to ensure fair and consistent ratings

D) knowing the advantages and disadvantages of different appraisal tools

E) developing a plan to assist employees with performance improvement

46) Which of the following is LEAST likely to cause a supervisor’s performance appraisal of a subordinate to be biased?

A) purpose of the appraisal

B) personality of the supervisor

C) location and time of the appraisal

D) personal characteristics of the subordinate

E) relationship between supervisor and subordinate

45) Which of the following has most likely occurred when a supervisor conducting a performance appraisal is influenced by a subordinate’s individual differences such as age, sex, and race?

A) bias

B) unclear standards

C) central tendency

D) halo affect

E) broadbanding

44) The best method for reducing the problems of leniency or strictness in performance appraisals is to ________.

A) keep critical incident logs

B) adhere to EEO guidelines

C) require multiple appraisals

D) impose a performance distribution

E) reconsider the timing of the appraisal

43) The ________ problem occurs when supervisors tend to rate all their subordinates consistently low.

A) central tendency

B) leniency

C) strictness

D) unclear standards

E) halo effect

42) Which performance appraisal problem is associated with supervisors giving all of their subordinates consistently high ratings?

A) central tendency

B) leniency

C) strictness

D) recency effect

E) halo effect

41) The best way to reduce the problem of central tendency in performance appraisals is to ________.

A) rank employees

B) establish SMART goals

C) use graphic rating scales

D) limit the number of appraisals

E) appraise personal characteristics

Final Paper

Focus of the Research Project

The final version of your Research Project should be 10 to 12 double-spaced pages (not including the title page, references page, tables, appendices, etc.). The paper will be an original business research project that tests a hypothesis of your choice. The research can relate to your place of current or previous employment or other contexts of interest. Sample topics could include, but are not limited to:　

 

 

• Manufacturing quality/cost improvement

 

 

• Service quality improvement

 

 

• Systems design

 

 

• Accounts receivable/billing/accounts receivable aging

 

 

• Marketing/advertising issues

 

 

• Sales of goods

 

 

• Investments

 

 

• Product safety

 

 

• Workplace safety

 

 

• Labor pools

 

 

• Human relations matters of broad concern

 

 

• Population studies

 

 

For your Research Project, you will be combining all parts that you have worked on from Weeks One through Five. Your paper should be formatted as follows:

 

 

• Part 1: Introduction　

 

 

• Background information about your research project (Week One)

 

 

• Describe the management dilemma (Week One)

 

 

• Ethical Concerns (Week Two)

 

 

• Develop and explain your hypothesis (Week One)

 

 

• Part 2: Literature review　

 

 

• Background research on at least three scholarly sources (Week One)

 

 

• Part 3: Data

 

 

• Secondary data (Week Three)

 

 

• Measurement benchmark and scales (Week Three)

 

 

• Plans for using observations, focus groups, interviews, or surveys (Week Four)

 

 

• Plans for analyzing data (Week Five)

 

 

• Plans for how to analyze results (Week Five)

 

 

• Part 4: Results

 

 

• Summarize and display the results of your research. Provide charts, graphs, tables, and so forth, as they might apply to your research.　

 

 

• State whether you reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis based on your study; explain.

 

 

• Part 5: Conclusion

 

 

• Summarize the entire study and reflect on it

 

 

• Consider the “take-home” message that management and other decision makers can use from this research to make informed business decisions.

 

 

• Include the strengths and weaknesses of the study and suggestions for future research.

 

 

• Part 6: References

 

 

• Include a separate references page and cite all references within the text of the paper.　

 

 

• Part 5: Appendix

 

 

• If applicable

 

 

Writing the Research Project

The Research Project:

 

 

• Must be 10 to 12 double-spaced pages in length (not including the title page, references page, tables, appendices, etc.) and must be formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

 

 

• Must include a title page with the following:

 

 

• Title of paper

 

 

• Student’s name

 

 

• Course name and number

 

 

• Instructor’s name

 

 

• Date submitted

 

 

• Must begin with an introductory paragraph that has a succinct thesis statement.

 

 

• Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.

 

 

• Must end with a conclusion that reaffirms your thesis.

 

 

• Must use at least three scholarly sources from the Ashford University Library in addition to the text.

 

 

• Must document all sources in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

 

 

• Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

Assignment 2: Evaluation of Business Operations

Scenario

You are the human resources (HR) manager for a public organization and you are conducting a New Hire Orientation session for all new employees. Last week, you analyzed the organization, including its strengths and weaknesses, as well as its mission, vision, goals, and objectives. This week, you have been asked to give a presentation on the business operations of the organization.

Instructions

Refer to the report you prepared on the organization for M1: Assignment 3.

Develop a PowerPoint presentation that accomplishes the following:

1. Create a diagram of the organizational structure showing the hierarchy and chain of command.
2. Develop a flowchart that analyzes the steps of the organization’s business processes.
3. Conduct a capacity analysis of the location(s) and logistics. Your capacity analysis should address both short- and long-term implications regarding all aspects of the business process, including storage, production, processes, costs, and accessibility.

Develop a PowerPoint presentation. In addition to the slides, include a detailed outline in the speaker notes section explaining the content on each slide. Be sure to support your responses using at least two scholarly sources from the Argosy University online library resources or the Internet. Cite the sources for your information.

Make sure your presentation adheres to the following Presentation Guidelines:

• Create a presentation that is professional and visually appealing.
• Include a combination of text and graphics.
• Do not write out your entire presentation on the slides. Use bullet points of keywords and short phrases instead of long sentences and paragraphs.
• Create your presentation (slides and speaker notes) using language that can be easily understood by the intended audience.
• Use APA formatting for your slides and Speaker Notes (outline).

Write in a clear, concise, and organized manner. Your response should demonstrate ethical scholarship in appropriate and accurate representation and attribution of sources (i.e., APA); and display accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Develop a 5–10-slide presentation (including the title slide and reference slide) in PowerPoint format. Apply APA standards to citation of sources. Use the following file naming convention: LastnameFirstInitial_M2_A2.ppt.

 

Grading Criteria

Assignment Components	Proficient	Max Points
Create a diagram of the organizational structure showing the hierarchy and chain of command.	Diagram presents a clear, accurate, and logical illustration of the organization’s hierarchy and chain of command.	28
Develop a flowchart that analyzes the steps of the organization’s business processes.	Flowchart presents a clear, detailed, accurate, and logical analysis of the steps of the organization’s business processes.	32
Conduct a capacity analysis of the location(s) and logistics.	Capacity analysis includes a thorough assessment of both short- and long-term implications of issues regarding location and logistics.	20
Academic Writing
Write in a clear, concise, and organized manner; demonstrate ethical scholarship in appropriate and accurate representation and attribution of sources (i.e., APA); and display accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Use of scholarly sources aligns with specified assignment requirements.	Presentation is concise with a logical flow of thought; content includes clearly articulated key points that are free of major errors. Presentation is visually appealing and addresses audience considerations adequately. Use of scholarly sources aligns with specified assignment requirements.	20
Total		100

Thank you,

Complete the following:

• Choose 1 consumer product brand to be your “client.” You may choose any consumer brand or select a brand from this list.
• Review your client’s brand by researching its Web site and other supplemental resources, such as this directory to learn everything you can about the company, its customers, the management team, and anything else that will help you understand its brand.

You are the chief marketing consultant for your company’s brand. Your goal is to help the company create an updated marketing plan by learning to apply the marketing process to communicate how great the company’s brand is to its current and potential customers in the marketplace and market space.

One of the first steps of the marketing plan is to understand the business goals of the project.

Your client has asked you to draft the goals of the marketing plan by suggesting how to use the marketing mix—the 4 Ps of marketing—to help create a marketing proposal to help reposition the brand in the marketplace. The client wants a brief report presentation to help brainstorm the interaction of the 4 marketing Ps and other ideas with the company’s marketing team.

Write a proposal brief showing the goals of the marketing project by illustrating one objective for each marketing P. The brief should include the following sections:

Product Overview

• Briefly explain the company and brand. Add a picture of the brand.
• Give an overview of the brand and its current position or perception by customers in the marketplace. For example, do customers seem to think the brand is too expensive compared to its competitors?
• Identify 1 competitor of this brand and provide a reason why they are a competitor to your client’s brand. Add a picture of the competitor brand.

  Product Objective

• Draft 1 objective for the marketing proposal to show how product can be applied to your brand. For example, include a statement about the features of the product and the benefits of those features for the customer, or a new product satisfaction guarantee policy.

  Price Objective

• Draft 1 objective of the marketing proposal to show how price can be applied to your brand. For example, consider how to possibly discount the price for a short time in an advertising campaign to entice current and new customers to try the product or competitively price the product against its competitors for maximizing market share.

  Place Objective

• Draft 1 objective of the marketing proposal to show how place can be applied to your brand. Examples include introducing the product in an online capacity to gain market share, or finding numerous distribution outlets for the product.

  Promotion Objective

• Draft 1 objective of the marketing proposal to show how promotion can be applied to your brand. For example, one message could be to explain the quality of the brand over the competition, or a special promotion offering a 25% discount on the first online purchase as another way to increase brand awareness.

  Conclusion

• Summarize your understanding of how the 4 Ps are linked for this particular brand.

  References

Research Paper Guidelines Format: 12-15 pages of text; NOT including APA references and in-text citations: typed (double spaced, 12 point font, 1 inch margins). Absolutely no plagiarism or direct quoting.; paraphrase is fine 1. APA Formatting is required: (e.g., running head, abstract, headings, references, etc.). 2. Organization: The papers should have a brief introduction, appropriate transitions between topic areas, and a short conclusion. 3. References: Consult at least seven (7) outside resources to complete this assignment (the course readings do not count). Please consider the seven-source requirement as establishing the baseline. References should be scholarly and peer-reviewed. Topic: Ever dynamic, organized crime continues to change. Emerging groups of criminals have become more sophisticated and more threatening, and additional crime groups have been added to the pantheon known as “organized crime.” Critical inquiry into organized crime is no longer limited to the United States; instead, globalization and growing economic interdependence have promoted the transformation of crime beyond national borders into all parts of the world. Added to this is the global problem of terrorism. For your research paper, please focus on the current landscape of organized crime. Please identify an emerging trend/issue in organized crime—either globally or domestically—and describe it. Why is it of such great concern? Then, suggest possible means to address this trend/issue. Your paper should be of two qualities: 1) Description: you will need to describe this current trend/issue. You might even need to do a brief historical segment to set the stage for critical assessment. 2) Critical inquiry: you must evaluate the magnitude of this trend/issue against current law enforcement capabilities and suggest new/creative means to address it. Please be as specific as you can. Do not just say, “I will write on the globalization of organized crime.” This is far too broad. I am looking for you to take a detailed look at a particular issue, critically assess it, and make specific recommendations based on your research. Approval: Please ensure you receive topic approval from me in the Week #3B Discussion Topic.