Selection of the firm

Determine an organization you will analyze and evaluate over the six weeks of this course. The organization can be one in which you work, one in which you have access, or one of such substance that significant internet material is available for your use.

Write a three to five page paper that:

• Describes the nature of the organization (provide industry, product/service, a brief history, and position in relation to competition)
• Identifies significant management personnel
• Discusses business strategy
• Defines the specific area of the business you plan to address

In addition to the requirements above, your paper:

• Must be double-spaced and 12 point font
• Must be formatted according to APA style
• Must include an introductory paragraph with a thesis statement
• Must conclude with a restatement of the thesis and a conclusion paragraph
• Must reference two scholarly resources
• Must include a reference page written in APA format

Carefully review the Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.

Need a VERY high score on this 50 question test

One thing that unites all humans—despite culture or time period—is the desire to be happy. Since the beginning of Western philosophy, philosophers have been asking the question, “How can I find happiness?”

In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle asserts that all things have their own primary purpose, or end. He says that the good, or happiness, can be achieved by reaching that primary purpose. For example, an acorn’s primary purpose or end is to grow into an oak tree. An airplane’s primary purpose is to fly. And according to Aristotle, a human’s primary purpose is to develop reason and intellect—and to develop this intellect to its fullest potential. If this can be done, he says that happiness will be found, and the individual will be living the good life. And yet, Aristotle says, the “common run of people” (i.e., the Average Joe) look for happiness through pleasure, wealth, or honor. Consider the following passage from Nichomachean Ethics (Baird & Kaufmann, 2000):

Since all knowledge and every choice is directed toward some good, let us discuss what is… the highest good attainable by action. As far as its name is concerned, most people would probably agree: for both the common run of people and cultivated men call it happiness, and understand by “being happy” the same as “living well” and “doing well.” But when it comes to defining what happiness is, they disagree, and the account given by the common run differs from that of the philosophers. The former say it is some clear and obvious good, such as pleasure, wealth, or honor; some say it is one thing and other another, and often the very same person identifies it with different things at different times: when he is sick he thinks it is health, and when he is poor he says it is wealth: and when people are conscious of their own ignorance, they admire those who talk above their heads in access of greatness. Some thinkers used to believe that there exists over and above these many good another good, good in itself and by itself, which also is the cause of good in all these things. (1)

Take a moment to reflect on this passage, and then write 2–3 paragraphs in response to the following questions:

• What do you think of Aristotle’s conclusion that the good life is a life of intellectual contemplation? Are there other ways of life that could bring happiness?
• Aristotle says that the common person’s definition of happiness is different than the philosopher’s. In what ways do you imagine it would be different, and why?
• Which branch of philosophy do you think this discussion of the good life, or happiness, would fall under? Please be sure to explain your reasoning.

Part 1 – Overview of Organization/Problem (due in Week 1): In a 2-3 page paper, provide an overview of the organization and the problem/issue that challenges that organization.  Next, detail how the problem/issue affects (or can affect) the future viability of the organization. Finally, discuss the principle role of human resources in an organization and how human resources can provide critical advice and counsel to the organization in addressing this challenge.

Part 2 – Environment Analysis (due in Week 2): Optimal solutions are determined when a researcher has a thorough understanding of a company and its industry, along with the strengths and weaknesses that impact its future viability.  In the second part of your plan, perform a SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunity, and Threats) on your chosen organization and provide an analysis of these results in light of the problem or issue under study. Be attentive to identifying how the problem or issue impacts the organization and its competitive position within the industry. The paper should be 2-3 pages.

Part 3 – Financial Analysis (due in Week 3): Nearly every problem or issue confronting an organization has a financial or budgetary impact. For instance, staff turnover has not only a direct cost on recruitment expenses, training costs, and productivity, but also an indirect cost related to the loss of organizational learning. In Part 3, detail the financial implications to the organization related to your problem or issue, including the additional costs that may arise if the problem or issue is not resolved effectively.  The paper should be 1-2 pages.

Part 4 – Recommendations (due in Week 5): The final part of your comprehensive project incorporates your recommendations.  Based on your work in Parts 1, 2, and 3, provide 2-3 recommendations to organizational leadership that would resolve the problem/issue in question. Be sure to detail any challenges the organization should consider in implementing your recommendations (culture, motivation, etc.) and your strategy to overcome these challenges. The recommendations section should be 2-3 pages.

The Final Paper due at the end of Week 5 will comprise Parts 1, 2, 3 and 4.  It should begin with an Executive Summary, which is an abbreviated capture of the entire paper and as such should touch upon all major points while engaging the reader. The final paper should be 8-10 pages.

Note that some of the information related to this project may not be readily available in course materials, requiring you to research contemporary management trends in the public sector.

Writing the Final Paper

The Final Paper:

• Must be eight to ten double-spaced pages (excluding title and reference pages) in length and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the approved APA style guide.
• Must include a cover page that includes:
  – Title of assignment
  – Student’s name
  – Course name and number
  – Instructor’s name
  – Date submitted
• Must address the questions with critical thought and complete sentences.
• Must include an introductory paragraph with a succinct thesis statement.
• Must conclude with a restatement of the thesis and a conclusion paragraph.
• Must use at least four scholarly resources.
• Must include, on the final page, a Reference Page that is completed according to APA style as outlined in the approved APA style guide.

Carefully review the Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.