Category: Business and Management

Exercise Content
The objective of this assignment is to explore and analyze the role of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in entrepreneurial ventures.
Assignment Components: 
Select an Entrepreneurial Venture: Each student is required to choose a specific entrepreneurial venture. It could be a startup, a small business, or a notable entrepreneur who has demonstrated a commitment to CSR.
Background Research: Conduct thorough research on the selected entrepreneurial venture. Gather information on the company’s history, mission, values, and any existing CSR initiatives. Look for relevant news articles, press releases, and the company’s official CSR reports if available.
CSR Analysis: Analyze the CSR initiatives undertaken by the entrepreneurial venture. Identify the social and environmental issues addressed, the strategies employed, and the impact of these initiatives on both the community and the business
Comparison with Competitors: Compare the CSR practices of the selected entrepreneurial venture with those of its competitors in the industry. Assess how CSR contributes to the competitive advantage and differentiation of the business.Challenges and Opportunities:Discuss the challenges faced by the entrepreneurial venture in implementing CSR initiatives and any opportunities that have arisen as a result. Consider the long-term benefits and potential risks associated with CSR.
Recommendations: Based on the analysis, provide recommendations for enhancing or expanding the CSR efforts of the entrepreneurial venture. Consider innovative approaches and potential collaborations with stakeholders.
Write a minimum 2-page paper discussing the learnings from the assignment. 
Reflect on the importance of CSR in entrepreneurial ventures and its implications for the broader business landscape.
Assessment Criteria:The assignment will be assessed based on the depth of research, analysis, creativity in recommendations, clarity of presentation, and the overall understanding of the role of CSR in entrepreneurial ventures.This assignment encourages students to critically examine the relationship between entrepreneurship and social responsibility, fostering a deeper understanding of the ethical considerations and positive impacts that can result from integrating CSR into business practices.
Use APA 7 Format and list your references.

Reading Assignment
As you read through the resources and watch the videos consider the following:
How is the communication process supposed to work in an organization?  
What are the different methods of communication practices?  
What are the barriers to effective communication?
Are all communication practices truthful, responsible, and concise?  
Did you ever question an e-mail, order, policy, message, or direction from a leader due to their poor communication practices? 
Read
Read the following from your textbook, Organizational behavior. 
Chapter 8
Chapter 8.1: You’ve Got Mail…and You’re Fired! The Case of RadioShack 
Chapter 8.2: Understanding Communication  
Chapter 8.3: Communication Barriers  
Chapter 8.4: Different Types of Communication and Channels
Chapter 8.5: The Role of Ethics and National Culture 
Chapter 8.6:  Employee Satisfaction Translates to Success: The Case of Edward Jones 
Chapter 8.7: Conclusion 
Watch
What are the barriers to communication? | Oral Communication in Context-SHS
Communication cycle
References
Organizational behavior. (2017). University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing. https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/organizational-behavior. Licensed under CC BY-NC-SA. 
Teachlearning English (2020, August 23). What are the barriers to communication? | Oral Communication in Context-SHS [Video]. YouTube.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z1BIeje_ko&ab_channel=DavidHarmon
Harmon, D. (2018, June 2). Communication cycle [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z1BIeje_ko&ab_channel=DavidHarmon
Written Assignment
Communication can be more challenging than one may think for various reasons, such as language, vagueness, and poor writing skills. These types of challenges are known as communication barriers. You have been introduced to several types of communication barriers in this unit. Many barriers block, change or diminish the communication process. Here are a few examples of types of communication barriers. 
Filtering 
Selective perception 
Information overload 
Emotional disconnects 
Lack of source familiarity or credibility 
Workplace gossip, semantic 
Gender differences 
Choose three of the barriers. Describe how each barrier blocks, changes, or diminishes the communication process within an organization. Provide examples for each one. 
Prepare a double-spaced one- to two-page informative essay using Times New Roman 12-point font. Use and cite at least two sources which may be material in our textbook or additional sources from the internet, the LIRN, or other sources to which you have access. 
Cite references to material that you use in preparing the essay using the American Psychological Association (APA) style.  
For assistance with APA format, refer to the LRC: Academic Writing. 
To access LIRN refer to the LRC: Online Library 
You will be peer-assessed on the following criteria: 
Provides a clear description of how three different barriers block, change or diminish the communication process 
Cites a minimum of two sources (APA format) and includes a reference page 
The paper is well-written and free of grammatical and spelling errors. 

Only use 3 peer reviewed journal references to 
write this paper.
Define the concept of cost and identify the key components of the cost of healthcare services. Elaborate on the kinds of costs that insured individuals may be responsible for when they use healthcare services.  Provide an example of an intangible cost and quantify that cost.  Next, explain the concept of a production function for medical services in terms of inputs and outputs.

Assignment Content
For this journal, choose a real or fictional company or other organization of interest to you. In our scenario, the organization is conducting a search for a new chief executive officer (CEO). As a board member of this organization, you are in charge of drafting the environmental, sustainability, and governance (ESG) section of the CEO executive compensation package. If the organization performs sufficiently on these metrics in the first 12 months after hire, the CEO will receive the full bonus or equity award (specified in a different section of the compensation package drafted by someone else).
Begin by researching ESG executive compensation metrics in the CSU Online Library. Then, write a memorandum by completing the Unit VIII Journal Template with the information listed below.
Header: Complete the Company Name, To, From, and Date sections.
Introduction: Describe your organization. Explain why environmental, sustainability, and governance considerations are important in the selection and compensation of the next CEO. This section should be one paragraph.
ESG Metrics Table: Provide three ESG metrics tied to the compensation package for the next CEO. For each metric, provide a short Metric Name, a 1–3 sentence Description, a quantifiable Goal (or goals), and a process of Measurement for determining the extent to which the goal was achieved. Aim to be as clear and precise as possible in this table to avoid any disputes over the interpretation of these metrics during negotiations with a CEO candidate. 
Conclusion: Describe what actions the organization must now take to implement your plan. This section should be one paragraph.
Your memorandum should be a minimum of one but no more than two pages in length. You are required to use at least two outside sources, one of which may be your course textbook.

Major Case Analysis PowerPoint or Prezi Presentation:
As students complete the required Major Case Analysis, they are also responsible for completing a
PowerPoint or Prezi presentation (or presentation that uses another appropriate technology) highlighting
their findings. This is a follow-up to the Major Case Analysis and must be submitted to the assignment
folder no later than the Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT of Module 7. The recommended length of the
presentation is 8-10 slides with audio commentary included. The presentation must be appropriate to
college-level work, demonstrate critical analysis of the case, and be free of spelling and grammar errors.
3
The presentation should outline the Major Case Analysis submitted in Module 7 and contain the major
topics that discuss the Major Case Analysis. It should also contain the critical-thinking topics contained in
this course: making claims, use of evidence, recognizing and validating assumptions, causal claims, and
being persuasive. Students are free to choose any company for the case; however, they are strongly
encouraged to choose a publicly held company that is listed on a major stock exchange in the U.S. so
adequate information may be obtained for the case analysis.
The Saint Leo core value of excellence will be assessed through a combination of the Major Case
Analysis and the Major Case Analysis PowerPoint or Prezi Presentation. Students are expected to
incorporate an integrated perspective of business utilizing critical-thinking techniques.

**INTRODUCTION**
Structuring and communicating a total compensation package that meets regulatory requirements and the needs of a global workforce requires a delicate balancing act between what is required and what will contribute to an effective relationship between employer, employee, and the community or country in which the company operates. Communicating benefits programs to employees can be as important as the benefits themselves. Knowing how to leverage all available compensation options is a necessary skill for any HR professional.
***PREPARATION**
Research compensation and benefits for either Java Corp or an organization of your choice. A minimum of four resources are required to support your work.
***SCENARIO***
For this assessment, choose either option 1 or 2. You do not need to do both. You will apply one of these scenarios in the instructions below. Both options will be graded using the same scoring guide.
Option 1
You are the new HR manager for Java Corp, a domestic cold coffee and tea company. Java Corp is opening a new office in London, England. You are planning on filling one executive level position with a U.S. citizen. In the scenario, the employee filling the role can either be an existing employee or a new hire. The term of the initial assignment is two years. Design a compensation package for this position as the new HR manager.
Option 2
Choose an organization to use for this assessment. It can be where you are currently employed or a company with which you are familiar. It must be an organization that is researchable, as you will need to gather and analyze information to complete the assessment. You may use the same organization you have used in past assessments.
If you choose the organization where you are currently employed, please keep in mind that the analyses you make must be based on facts that can be documented rather than your personal opinion as an employee.
Research the compensation and benefits of the chosen organization. The company is opening a new branch office in London, England. You are planning on filling one executive-level position with a U.S. citizen. This employee can be a newly hired or an existing employee. The term of the initial assignment is two years. You are the new HR manager and must design a compensation package for this position.
***INSTRUCTIONS/REQUIREMENTS***
Create a compensation package for a new expatriate position. Include the following:
Pay or Salary
In this part:
Describe key factors and decisions to make regarding base pay.
Specifically, discuss how base pay would be determined, what factors influence base pay, and in what way.
Note: You do not need to indicate exact salary figures for this assessment.
Analyze pay considerations specific to expatriate positions.
Consider foreign service premiums, incentive pay, hardship allowance, mobility premium, and the like.
Benefits
In this part:
Analyze legally required benefits for an employee.
Including social security, Medicare, federal and state unemployment, and worker’s compensation.
Also, discuss any legally required benefits that may be different in England compared to the United States.
Analyze standard benefit offerings.
Include health insurance, paid time off, employee assistance programs, et cetera.
Discuss factors that might influence these offerings such as company size, role of the employee, company location, et cetera.
Analyze the appropriateness of offering additional benefits or resources to employees facing an overseas work assignment that would ease their transition.
These types of benefits could include relocation assistance, home leave reimbursement, spousal support for finding work, and cultural or language training, among others.
Additional Requirements
Your assessment should also meet the following requirements:
Length: 4-5 typed, double-spaced pages, plus a reference page.
Written communication: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly and professional. Your writing should be:
Concise and logically organized.
Free of errors in grammar and mechanics.
Validation and support: Use a minimum of four relevant and credible scholarly or professional resources such as the Wall Street Journal to support your work.
APA format: Format all citations and references in accordance with current APA guidelines. 
***COMPETENCIES MEASURED***
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment scoring guide criteria.
Competency 1: Apply human resource strategies to business needs.
Analyze the appropriateness of offering additional benefits and resources for expatriate employees.
Competency 2: Analyze core functions of human resource management.
Describe key factors and decisions to make regarding base pay.
Analyze legally required benefits and standard benefit offerings for an employee.
Competency 3: Analyze the strategic value of human resource management within a competitive global business environment.
Analyze additional pay considerations for expatriate positions.
Competency 4: Communicate effectively in a scholarly and professional manner.
Apply APA formatting to in-text citations and references.
Convey purpose in an appropriate tone and style, incorporating supporting evidence and adhering to organizational, professional, and scholarly writing standards.
**Ensure the essay is written using the DISTINGUISHED scoring guide**

Chapter 1. Theoretical perspectives on entrepreneurship
1.1 The entrepreneur and his role in society
1.2 Entrepreneurial innovation
1.3 The interaction between the entrepreneur and public institutions
Chapter 2. Entrepreneurial activity – engine of economic growth
2.1 Determinants of entrepreneurial activity
2.1.1 Socio-economic factors
2.1.2 Demographic factors
2.1.3 Legislative elements
2.2 Theoretical perspectives on the role of entrepreneurship in economic growth
Chapter 3. Competitiveness, entrepreneurship and economic growth. Study on developed and emerging countries

Week 3 Assignment – PowerPoint (ePortfolio use)
Hide Assignment Information
Turnitin™
This assignment will be submitted to Turnitin™.
Instructions
Portfolio Assignment
Getting started:
Visit the Course Tools / Portfolio tab of the classroom and view the following video about the use of Portfolio: Portfolio Video. 
Course Objective: CO-1: Describe the environment in which business operates.
Prompt:
In a 7 to 10 slide PowerPoint presentation, describe the four to five stages of the business lifecycle. What are the characteristics of each stage, and what might the organization experience at each stage? Provide examples to support your description.
Instructions:
•    Prepare a 7 to 10 slide PowerPoint presentation. Use Speakers Notes for explanations and details (How to create a PowerPoint video 1 and how to add speaker notes 2).
•    Follow APA format for structure.
•    Use either audio or speaker notes.
•    Support your presentation with 3 credible references. Please note Wikipedia, Investopedia, and similar websites are not credible academic references. The best place to locate credible references is the Online Library.
•    Using Portfolio, submit your artifact you created for this assignment to your Portfolio account. Additionally, be sure to upload this assignment to your Classroom Assignment as well.
Grading Rubric:
A rubric is provided for your convenience that details how this assignmet will be graded. Please review it carefully prior to submitting your assignment. If the grading rubric does not auto-populate here, please see it by visiting the Assignment details under Course Tools.
Due on May 26, 2024 8:55 PM

Overview
Doing business in a foreign country can be fraught with pitfalls, from culturally inappropriate hugging to accidental obscene hand gestures. By researching and understanding the culture of a foreign country, you can better prepare yourself and your team to avoid mistakes and leverage cultural protocols to your advantage.
In this assignment, you will demonstrate your knowledge of cultural competence from this week’s module resources to compare the culture of the United States with the culture of the country you chose in Milestone One. You will show how doing business can be very different from one country to another.
Prompt
Use the Module Two Assignment template located in the Guidelines for Submission section to create a cultural comparison guide between the country you selected for your course project and the United States. In Part One of the template, you will identify common information about both countries, including their cultural backgrounds and business etiquettes. In Part Two of the template, you will identify the six dimensions in the Hofstede model of national culture for both countries. In Part Three of the template, you will draw conclusions on how doing business in the country you selected will differ from doing business in the United States and tips for individuals doing business in your selected country.
Specifically, you must address the following rubric criteria:
Basic Country Facts: Identify government types, languages, and religions for both countries.
Business Etiquette: Identify common business etiquette in both countries (e.g., common greetings, differences in communication toward men and women, negotiating styles, and acceptable business attire).
Tips for Doing Business: Identify three tips you would give to individuals doing business in the non-U.S. country you selected. Tips could be about behaviors to avoid (e.g., items as innocent as posture or body language or attitudes regarding punctuality or approaches to business).
Cultural Dimensions: Identify and examine the six dimensions in the Hofstede model of national culture for both countries.
Conclusions: Conclude how doing business in your new country will differ from doing business in the United States.

To respond to the Discussion, click on the blue hyperlink in the Topic area.
Discussion Instructions
Please refer to the Discussion Grading Rubric and the module, Discussions for details regarding how your performance will be assessed.  NOTE: Please be certain to read the entire discussion assignment since, in some cases, there is more than one question to discuss, respond to, or address. Ensure that you have answered the entire question.
Initial Post
This week’s discussion is a case analysis of Smithfield Custom Furniture developed specifically for this course. Your posting should answer the questions posed using this week’s course materials to support your answers. It is important to write concisely and to follow the detailed instructions provided below.  Include in-text citations and references in a reference list.    
Case Discussion  
SMITHFIELD’S CUSTOM FURNITURE
It is 1901. Alicia Smithfield, daughter of the founder of Smithfield Custom Furniture, just inherited the company. She is the only surviving heir to the furniture empire her father built.  
Headquartered in upstate New York, the company has grown significantly over the past 60 years. Began in a shed built next to his log cabin, Jonas Smithfield’s quality furniture developed a huge following among New York City’s wealthiest residents.
After being educated in the best business schools in Europe and America, Alicia has run the business side-by-side with her father for the past 15 years. When there were many issues confronting the business, a tree being felled took an unexpected route and brought Jonas’ life to a surprising end.
The company had just moved to a facility large enough to house its workers: 10 carpenters; 5 furniture designers; 5 wood finishers (varnish and dye experts); 10 machine operators to assist with the various equipment needed to cut the wood into various designs, polish and sand the wood; 5 mechanics to keep the vehicles (5 trucks) and boats (7) that transported wood from upstate New York and Canada to the work area in good repair; 15 lumberjacks who cut wood in nearby areas and moved it downriver by boat or over the rugged highway by truck; and 5 office personnel who assisted with filing, invoicing, drafting and responding to correspondence, handling customer inquiries, and performing other necessary office functions. More than half of these employees were hired in the past 5 years.
Alicia’s Big Issues
The major issues confronting Alicia Smithfield are these:  
(1) The furniture manufacturing functions are very disorganized. It is not clear how to best organize these functions. For example, the varnish and dye experts each use a different method to complete their tasks.  
(2) The production schedule is a mess. It is not clear which projects should be completed first to ensure products are being delivered to customers on time. 
(3) The lumberjacks, both cutting trees down and shipping them by truck or boat, differ on the best methods to perform these tasks. 
(4) Tempers are flaring as a result of the disorganization. The office, clerical, and support workers are rude to each other and can’t seem to act as a cohesive work unit.
(5) While the company is financially successful, as it has grown from a small family-owned business to a large and complex enterprise, the organizational structure has not kept pace. Few formal rules exist, and the keeping and maintenance of records are haphazard.  
(6) Employees are feeling overworked and losing satisfaction in the work they are doing. They believe their basic needs are not being addressed.
Alicia’s Proposed Issue Solutions 
Alicia Smithfield is familiar with all of the contributors (e.g., Weber, Gilbreath, Taylor, among others) to the management theory you have read about this week. She has decided to hire six (6) of those contributors to management theory from the week’s readings as consultants. (We shall now refer to those contributors (e.g., Weber, Gilbreath, Taylor, among the others) in this week’s readings as “consultants.”)  
Each of the six (6) consultants selected will be assigned to solve only one of the six (6) issues listed above. Alicia’s problem is that she is unclear as to which of the six (6) contributors selected from the week’s reading to be her consultants are best matched to solve each of the six (6) specific issues listed above.   
Your Task for Your Initial Post 
You are to answer four (4) of the above-mentioned six (6) issues identified by Alicia Smithfield. Specifically, she has asked you to recommend a consultant to solve four of the six issues confronting her. You have been requested to explain to Alicia why you selected the four consultants you chose to solve each of the four selected issues. Each consultant will solve one of the four issues you identified that particular consultant to address. You must explain the major contribution/idea of the consultant selected and how that contribution/idea applies to the specific issue you have recommended that the consultant solve. You must identify the school of thought that each consultant represents.  
Note: You may not use any of the individuals in the readings to solve more than one of the four (4) issues. If a person you select is deceased, do not let that inconvenience stand in your way. You may still use that individual to solve a specific issue.
For research associated with this discussion, you must use course materials only. You must provide in-text citations and references for each of the four (4) issues you select.
Format for Your Initial Post
Use the exact numbers and corresponding headings for your initial post for each of your 4 selections. For example, one student’s post may be numbered 1, 3, 5, 6; another student’s post may be numbered 1, 2, 4, 5; and so forth. Any four of the six issues listed that a student selects to answer will be acceptable.     
Manufacturing Functions are Disorganized 
Production Schedule is a Mess
Lumberjack Disagreement Methods To Cut Trees/Load Boat  
Tempers Flare among Office Support Staff 
Lack of Formal Rules/Record-Keeping Processes  
Basic Needs and Job Satisfaction Overlooked 
Two Options for Your Required Replies to Classmates 
Option 1 is that you find a consultant selection made by a classmate to address a specific issue, as identified by the issue number and description, with which you disagree. You must state why you believe a better consultant should address a particular issue that differs from your classmate’s response. You must state the major idea associated with your choice and why that idea applies to the issue more appropriately. Your reply must be supported with course materials, in-text citations, and references.
Option 2 occurs if you agree with all of a particular classmate’s consultant selections. In that case, you must address one of the remaining two (2) listed issues that your classmates did not answer. You will explain which consultant you think could best address that issue, the school of thought that individual represents, and explain how that individual’s major contribution or idea applies to the specific issue you selected. Your reply must be supported with course materials, in-text citations, and references.
Note: You may use either Option 1 or Option 2 for each different classmate to whom you respond.
Instructions for Responses to Classmates’ Posts 
A response posting should be a minimum of one short paragraph. Word totals for these posts should be in the 75–150-word range. The goal of your response posts is to extend discussions already taking place or pose new possibilities or ideas not previously voiced.  Your goal should be to motivate the group discussion and present a creative approach to the topic.  Do not merely agree or disagree, repeating what a classmate stated or what you have already stated. Explain the ‘why or how’ with supporting evidence and concepts from the course material. Include in-text citations and associated references within a reference list.
How to Do Well in Discussions
Make your initial post responding to the above questions by Saturday, 11:59 p.m. EST.
Comment on at least three of your classmates’ posts by Tuesday, 11:59 p.m. EST. 
Posting late may lose you points.
Respond to the specific questions posed in the discussion.
Be sure to base your initial post and responses on course materials, and other scholarly sources.
Write clearly and proofread; errors can lose you points.
Quality of posts, citations, frequency, and timeliness of posts all factor into your discussion grade. 
Participation Rubric