To prepare for this Assignment, select and interview a business executive about whom you can find information regarding his or her leadership activities and the organization with which he or she is affiliated. This may be someone you know or who owns a business local to you. Use the weekly readings as additional support for your ideas. Your interview should focus on the following two questions:

How would you describe your leadership style?
How would you describe your role as it relates to the health of your organization?

By Day 7
Submit a 3- to 4-page analysis excluding the title page and reference page of the individual’s leadership style and the impact of that style on his or her organization. Your analysis should include the following:

An evaluation of the leadership style of your selected leader, according to an existing leadership style theory.
An assessment of the health of that leader’s organization, based upon information shared during the interview as well as any additional resources to support your assessment
A comparison of the relationship between your chosen leader’s leadership style and the health of his or her organization, as conveyed in the interview, to what is depicted in any local media, websites, or news information about the organization.
A minimum of two specific citations per page from this week’s Learning Resources and/or additional scholarly sources; you may also include media examples of leadership behavior and other relevant organizational information to support your analysis.

NOTE: Be sure to use the APA Course Paper Template to complete this Assignment. Also, refer to the Week 2 Assignment Rubric for specific grading elements and criteria. Your Instructor will use this rubric to assess your work. Please Note: For each page of your paper, you must include a minimum of two APA-formatted scholarly citations. Use APA 7th edition for a guideline and use APA template for the assignment

Initial Post Instructions
The principle of utility involves maximizing happiness as a desirable outcome of decisions. Although it does not get directly said, there is an inverse intention to minimize the undesirable outcome of disaster. Utilitarian decisions are directed toward outcomes—that is, the consequences of decisions.

We need to look at results. We first look at the actual results of an action. We judge if it was the best possible result. We can judge the actual results in comparison to other results that reasonably could be said to have been possible.

If we do not yet have the actual results of an action, we do not know if it is moral or not. We can talk hypothetically about what might happen, and then what that would show about the morality of an action. However, if we do not know what the action had as its consequences, we cannot yet say if it is moral or not.

Initial Post Instructions
For the initial post of this week’s discussion respond to one of the following options, and label the beginning of your post indicating either Option 1, Option 2, or Option 3:

Option 1: You are a nurse on a floor with only elderly patients. Every day, each patient tells you about how much pain they are in and asks you to help them. They want you to inject them with something to end their lives. If the patients die, the beds on that floor would be freed up for other patients. The hospital is at 100 percent capacity. There is no other hospital for 30 miles. Other patients may be not receiving care due to a lack of free beds. What is the moral thing to do here? Why is that the moral thing to do? What would an utilitarian say is the moral thing to do? Why would they say that? Compare and contrast the utilitarian approach with that of an ethical egoist or social contact theorist

Option 2: A new social media app is offering itself to you for free. If you upload a picture to it, the app will show how you will look at 10 years. John Doe, a friend of yours, says not to use the app as it will then possess your biometric facial data. Jane Doe, another friend of yours, says that she heard the app shares the facial data with a security firm that helps the government detect terrorists at airports. Should you use this app? Why or why not? If John Doe is right, would an utilitarian say it is right to use the app? Why or why not?  If Jane Doe is right, would a social contract theorists say it is right to use the app? Consider the role the Fourth Amendment at play here.

Option 3: You are a nursing student at the XYZ College. It has a 50 percent acceptance rate (half the applicants do not get in). XYZ is a public college. XYZ has decided to implement an affirmative action policy. The college has few students over the age of 50. To encourage more students of that age, every student 50 or older will receive a bonus point. A student’s admission is dependent on having 11 points. One earns points for a GPA above a certain score, ACT/SAT score above a certain number, having a letter of recommendation, etc. XYZ also lacks LGBT students, Muslim, and African-American students and is considering offering a bonus point for any student fitting those categories. What is the key moral conflict for XYZ? What social values should XYZ promote here? What diverse populations are involved here, and what are their interests? Do you think XYZ’s social action is the correct solution to lack of diversity? Why or why not? Factor the ethics of egoism and utilitarianism into your answer.

Writing Requirements

• Minimum of 2 posts (1 initial & 1 follow-up)
• Minimum of 2 sources cited (assigned readings/online lessons and an outside scholarly source)
• APA format for in-text citations and list of references

  

Systems analysts are accountable for identifying, studying, and developing solutions to business problems. As a result, a systems analyst will collaborate with the stakeholders in the definition of systems requirements. Also, systems analysts are involved in managing the implementation of information systems that address business problems.

Consequently, this class’s final project focuses on delivering a system analysis of a business scenario (real or hypothetic) that can be addressed with the implementation of an information system. Hence, you will use the systems development life cycle (SDLC) as your project’s core methodology.

At a minimum, the project will have the following deliverables:

1. Title Page

2. Table of contents and page numbers indicating where the content it

3. Abstract (Executive Summary / Project Scope) (200 to 300 words)

It contains a summary of the project, including the conclusions and recommendations. Several paragraphs are generally used and should not exceed 500 words

4. Project Plan

a. Company Background (real or hypothetical). It must include a mission statement and the description of the organization or scenario under analysis

b. System Description

i. Problem Statement

ii. Describe the Purpose of the System 

iii. Describe the Objectives and Scope of the System[JC1]  

iv. Proposed Alternatives, [JC2] 

v. Recommended solution (explain the rationale for choosing it) and conclusion

c. Feasibility Statement

i. Economic feasibility (Calculations in Excel/summary figure included in the written report)[JC3] 

ii. Technical feasibility[JC4] 

iii. Operational feasibility[JC5] 

iv. Legal and contractual feasibility

d. Management Plan

i. Team setup

ii. Communication plan

iii. Resource requirements (time, personnel, tools, budget)*

iv. Risk Analysis

1. Type of Threats and quantitative or qualitative evaluation/classification or risk. A chart summarizing the risk analysis (Impact vs. Likelihood of unmitigated risk)

2. Events that can generate those threats

3. Actions that will be taken to mitigate or eliminate threats

e. Requirements & Analysis

i. Plan for requirements definition (interviews, surveys, meeting sessions)

ii. High-level functional and non-functional requirements described

f. Modeling 

i. data flow diagrams context, and level 0, and additional level(s) (only if required by the instructor) and data dictionary description of functional primitives

ii. Use case and written description of the main system

iii. BPMN[1]  diagram of the process

iv. Decision table(s) and description of the table if needed (processes that apply / at least one)

v. Sample design of user interface (at minimum, assume you are designing for a desktop/notebook device). Wireframes and storyboards will be used

vi. Sample Design of output(s), report(s)

g. Implementation plan

i. Description of the implementation plan

ii. Gantt chart illustrating the project that supports your development

iii. Network Diagram and Critical path (CP)

iv. A description of how you will manage the CP

v. Test/conditions that you will need to include in a testing plan

vi. Security Considerations

vii. Maintenance activities that will be required

    

[1] Business Process Management Notation

    

[JC1]I changed the word goals for objectives to make it more specific.

Scope description

Use a high level perspective and list what is this project supposed to achieve.  If there are things that are closely related describe why you did not include them in the scope. 

Then list and describe the specific objectives to achieve and the functionalities of your project that will have to support those objectives 

 

[JC2]For the given scenario there might be different alternatives. If that is the case describe what are those alternatives

 

[JC3]What tangible and intangible benefits are we getting?

What tangible and intangible costs are we incurring?

Present an economic analysis

 

[JC4]Do we have the know how of

Programming Languages

Database management Sysems

Web Development

Things that we will have to do to overcome. 

· Do we get training, do we hire consultants?

· Is this intended to be outsourced for development or are we to  hire cloud services. 

· Is our current software and hardware platform adequate>

If cloud services are going to be hired, what type of services IaaS, PaaS, SaaS? Provide and explanation for our choices

 

[JC5]Is the project supported by management?

Will we reduce our headcount? How do we manage the affected employees?

How will we organize training fo the users>

Do we have users involved in the development process? In what stages?

Do we need to change our operating procedures to implement the new system?

Will there be negative effects that could be experienced by users?

What risks are going to face? Make a matrix with the most important risks and impacts. (Included in section D)

 

2.2 Assignment: Totaling Costs

 

Getting Started

Production and cost are the fundamental building blocks on the supply side of the market. In this assignment you will learn how to calculate costs and construct cost schedules.

Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be able to:

• Describe the determinants of a firm’s output and costs in the long run.
• Use cost relationships to predict a firm’s profit-maximizing decisions.

Resources

• Textbook: Economics for Managers
• File: Ch05.ppt
• Media: Costs of Production

Background Information

In this assignment you will learn how to calculate costs and construct cost schedules for a small business.

Instructions

1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.
2. Read Chapter 5, “Production and Cost Analysis in the Short Run,” in Economics for Managers. As you read, think about what it costs you to do some basic task.
3. Download and review the Ch05.ppt PowerPoint file.
4. View the media: Costs of Production. This lecture presentation covers output and costs in the short run, deriving long-run average cost and firm profit maximization.
5. Assess data (in the table below) related to a small lawn mowing business.
   1. Angela hires students at $40 a day to mow lawns.
   2. Regardless of the number of students she hires, Angela leases five lawn mowers for $200 a day.
   3. The following table gives the daily output:
      Labor 
      (students per day)Total Product
      (lawns cut per day)0012024437049451146120
6. Write a one- to two-page paper that addresses the following. Be sure to show your calculations.
   1. Construct the average fixed cost, average variable cost, and average total cost schedules.
   2. Construct the marginal cost schedule.
   3. Check that the gap between total cost and total variable cost is the same at all output levels. Explain why this relationship is so important and demonstrate clear insightful and critical thinking.
7. When you have completed your assignment, save a copy for yourself and submit a copy to our instructor by the end of the workshop.

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2.3 Discussion: Economies of Scale

 

Getting Started

You will examine production and cost issues in the long run, where all inputs in a production process are variable, using a case study.

Upon successful completion of this discussion, you will be able to:

• Interpret a long-run production function in which all inputs can be varied and possibly substituted for each other.
• Explain how production and cost analysis is used in management decision making.

Resources

• Textbook: Economics for Managers
• Video: COVID-19

Background Information

This information and activity build on the short-run production and cost issues covered in the previous workshop.

Instructions

1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.
2. Read Chapter 6 and review Chapter 5 in Economics for Managers. As you read, think about the goods and services that your organization produces and what their production costs might be.
3. Utilizing the following link, COVID-19, explain how COVID-19 procedures have inhibited firms’ achievement of economies of scale, essentially hastening the onset of diseconomies of scale. First, explain how attempts at dealing with COVID-19 have resulted in less demand for a cadre of services such as airline travel, restaurants, barber shops, salons, and theme parks. Focus on the notion of “less quantity of output” and how that would inhibit the achievement of economies of scale. Secondly, explain what firms like the above are doing trying to save their businesses as they deal with the pandemic. Are these attempts at saving their businesses being successful? What would it take to rebuild economies of scale and the associated benefits? Explain.
4. Your initial response should be 400 to 600 words in length and include two academic sources that are properly cited.  It is due by the end of the fourth day of the workshop.
5. Now conduct a critical analysis of a posting by two of your classmates by the end of the workshop.
   1. The topic of your discussion response should be your classmate’s posting and should be written as if you were reviewing his/her posting in an academic journal. Your discussion response should, therefore, answer the following questions as applicable:
      1. Were your classmate’s arguments articulate and logical? Were the facts correct?
      2. Was the interpretation your classmate provided reasonable and consistent with experts in the field? Was your classmate consistent with both the substance and intent of his/her references?
   2. The focus for your critical analysis is not whether or not you agree with your classmate, but how well his/her position was presented. Each response should be at least 200 words in length and cite two academic sources.  Please strive to make your discussion responses ones that cause iron to sharpen iron.

https://www.strategy-business.com/blog/How-COVID-19-is-reversing-economies-of-scale?gko=84025

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2.4 Assignment: Turnitin-Market Structure Organization

 

Getting Started

In this assignment you will learn about market structures (the environments in which firms operate) and study the four different market structures.

Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be able to:

• Evaluate different market structures, including their similarities and differences.
• Categorize firms into the appropriate market structure.

Resources

• Textbook: Economics for Managers
• Media: Perfect Competition
• Media: Different Market Structures
• Media: John Deere
• Media: Chick-Fil-A
• Media: Duke Energy
• Media: Facebook
• File: Market Structure Table.docx

Background Information

A study of market structure integrates the demand and pricing materials with the production and cost issues from earlier workshops.

Instructions

1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.
2. In Economics for Managers, read:
   1. Chapter 7, pp. 170–178
   2. Chapter 8, pp. 196–210
   3. Chapter 9, pp. 230–237
3. Review the characteristics of the different market structures presented in Table 7.1 of Chapter 7 in Economics for Managers.
4. View the following media:
   1. Perfect Competition
   2. Different Market Structures
5. Below are four companies operating in the United States today. Using your knowledge of market structures, attempt to classify each of the companies as either perfect competition, monopolistic competition, oligopoly, or monopoly. Provide rationale for each of your assessments and explain why you chose one particular market structure over another. Additional information is provided alongside each of the firms. Make sure you discuss the level of pricing power they exercise in the marketplace.
   1. John Deere
   2. Chick-Fil-A 
   3. Duke Energy – Cincinnati, Ohio Service Area 
   4. Facebook 
6. Download the Market Structure Table.docx file.
7. Using this file, evaluate each business:
   1. Fill in each box for all four firms. In the last row of the table, determine the market structure, or if it is a multi-divisional structure, the market structure for each of its major units for each of the four firms. Your answers should be thorough and demonstrate clear, insightful critical thinking.
   2. Immediately after the table, write a 400- to 600-word response that compares and contrasts the four firms. How are the firms the same and how do they differ? Provide a detailed response that shows clear, insightful thinking in your determination of the market structure of the firm.
8. Use proper spelling, grammar, and APA formatting. Cite at least two sources for each of the four firms.  These sources should be scholarly, peer-reviewed, or from a reputable periodical on business or the industry.
9. When you have completed your assignment, save a copy for yourself and submit a copy to your instructor by the end of the workshop. (Turnitin enabled).

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2.1 Assignment: Reading and Remediation

 

Getting Started

Viewing the videos and practicing using the practice Excel file with its video can prepare you for the work needed on the research report for one data set.

In order to successfully complete this exercise, you should be able to:

• Review videos about statistics fundamentals.
• Practice with the Excel file provided.

Resources

• File: WS2Practice
• File: WS2Homework
• Video: Central Tendency and Variability
• Video: Z-Scores
• Video: Z-Scores and the Normal Curve
• Video: Histograms in Excel
• Video: Pie Charts using a summary table in Excel
• Video: Time Series
• Video: Pareto Chart
• Textbook: OpenIntro Statistics

Background Information

Providing background and descriptive statistics is like a literature review section of a dissertation. You review and communicate the central tendency and variation elements to the raw data. You present visual representations of the data to give meaning to the raw data.

Instructions

1. Watch the following Excel remediation videos:
   1. Histograms in Excel
   2. Pie Chart using a summary table in Excel
   3. Time Series
   4. Pareto Chart
2. An optional supplementary textbook is the OpenIntro Statistics, and you can read the concepts there.
3. Use the lab file WS2Practice to practice the Excel skills (includes an Excel hands-on video inside the spreadsheet as a link).
4. Use the file WS2Homework to demonstrate the Excel skills.
5. There are 60 points awarded for this exercise, 10 points for each problem.
6. When you have completed your assignment, save a copy for yourself and submit a copy to your instructor by the end of the workshop.

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2.4 Assignment: Creating the Beginning Background Section

 

Getting Started

This week you will continue writing the background section for your research report and demonstrate your ability to create and interpret descriptive statistics (in tabular and graphical form) using the data from the data set you have chosen.

In order to successfully complete this assignment, you should be able to:

• Write the background section for one data set demonstrating your ability to create and interpret descriptive statistics (in tabular and graphical form) using the data from the data set you have chosen.

Resources

• Your most recent research report
• File: Research Report Patients

Background Information

This is one of the more detailed assignments in this course. You will write a background literature review, detailed statistics, and descriptive statistics in the form of tables and graphs for the data set. Normal distributions and probability can also be used as part of the descriptive statistics section, which the example report did not show. See videos and practice files for any remedial training on those topics.

Instructions

1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.
2. Be sure to use your most recent version of your research report.
3. Study the Research Report Patients file.
4. Fill out the “Information and Literature Review” section of the Project Background including the literature review, descriptive statistics, and graphs associated with the data set chosen to write about. You are to demonstrate your ability to create and interpret descriptive statistics (in tabular and graphical form) using the data from the data set you have chosen.
5. When you have completed your assignment, save a copy for yourself and submit a copy of your report by the end of the workshop. Remember to keep the files since you will be adding to the research report throughout the course.

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2.5 Assignment: Ethical Considerations

 

Getting Started

Ethical statements and a biblical framework are important to add to your research report. Research reports must be reliable, reproducible, and valid.

In order to successfully complete this assignment, you should be able to:

• Apply a biblical perspective to the background section of one research report.

Resources

• Article: Virtuous Leaders & Organizations
• Your most recent Research Report

Background Information

Having sources to back up statements and raw data to back up statistics goes a long way to making your research believable and trusted. Doing a professional job on the background section sets up the analysis and summary sections of the report.

Instructions

1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.
2. Be sure to use your most recent version of your research report.
3. Review the article Virtuous Leaders & Organizations from the Spring 2017 issue of The DeVoe Report to understand the virtuous business model.
4. Add two paragraphs to the research report just before the Descriptive Statistics section. It is marked with the heading Ethical Considerations from the Literature Review.
   1. One paragraph in the report should explain how the three sources required pertain to the research data set.
   2. One paragraph in the report should explain how the Virtuous Business Model can pertain to this research.
   3. Apply a biblical framework using Scripture references that match the research being done on the topic.
5. When you have completed your assignment, save a copy for yourself and submit a copy of your template by the end of the workshop. Remember to keep the files since you will be adding to the research report throughout the course.

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*Before beginning this assignment, make sure you have read the section “Writing About Dramatic Structure” (pp. 631-674). This includes the play Antigone. 

Read Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie (p. 677).   In an essay of no less than four (4) full pages, write an analysis of this play, responding to the following short, critical essays in the textbook:

“Tennessee Williams Gallery of Feminine Characters” p. 724
“Landscapes of the Dislocated Mind” p. 724
“Entering The Glass Menagerie” p. 726
“A Domestic Drama of Dashed Dreams” p. 726
“Gritty Polish for a Tennessee Williams Jewel” p. 726-727

Cite all of the above essays at least once in your essay, using MLA style.

The focus of this essay is to interact with source material and address what you believe works, and doesn’t, in regards to the secondary source material you will be reading.  Make sure you include at least three (3) citations from the play when responding to the critical essays.

Any outside material utilized in this essay not included in this prompt will result in an automatic zero for the assignment.

Give your essay an effective and engaging title.
Write this essay in the third person POV.
Cites using MLA style.
Include an MLA works cited page.