Realtors rely on detailed property appraisals—conducted using appraisal tools—to assign market values to houses and other properties. These values are then presented to buyers and sellers to set prices and initiate offers.

Research appraisal is not that different. The critical appraisal process utilizes formal appraisal tools to assess the results of research to determine value to the context at hand. Evidence-based practitioners often present these findings to make the case for specific courses of action.

In this Assignment, you will use an appraisal tool to conduct a critical appraisal of published research. You will then present the results of your efforts.

To Prepare:

• Reflect on the four peer-reviewed articles you selected in Module 2 and the four systematic reviews (or other filtered high- level evidence) you selected in Module 3.
• Reflect on the four peer-reviewed articles you selected in Module 2 and analyzed in Module 3.
• Review and download the Critical Appraisal Tool      Worksheet Template provided in the Resources.

(Evidence-Based Project)

Critical Appraisal of Research

Conduct a critical appraisal of the four peer-reviewed articles you selected by completing the Evaluation Table within the Critical Appraisal Tool Worksheet Template. Choose a total of four peer-reviewed articles that you selected related to your clinical topic of interest in Module 2 and Module 3.

Note: You can choose any combination of articles from Modules 2 and 3 for your Critical Appraisal. For example, you may choose two unfiltered research articles from Module 2 and two filtered research articles (systematic reviews) from Module 3 or one article from Module 2 and three articles from Module 3. You can choose any combination of articles from the prior Module Assignments as long as both modules and types of studies are represented.

Part 3B: Critical Appraisal of Research

Based on your appraisal, in a 2-3 page critical appraisal, suggest a best practice that emerges from the research you reviewed. Briefly explain the best practice, justifying your proposal with APA citations of the research.

Types of Study Designs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzEyl-VrhKU

Levels of Evidence video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqQ94s-3dCc

Reliability and Validity video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ltvDNAsO-I

Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2018). Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: A guide to best practice (4th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer.

· Chapter 5, “Critically Appraising Quantitative Evidence for Clinical Decision Making” (pp. 124–188)

· Chapter 6, “Critically Appraising Qualitative Evidence for Clinical Decision Making” (pp. 189–218)

Fineout-Overholt, E., Melnyk, B. M., Stillwell, S. B., & Williamson, K. M. (2010a). Evidence-based practice step by step: Critical appraisal of the evidence: Part I. American Journal of Nursing, 110(7), 47–52. doi:10.1097/01.NAJ.0000383935.22721.9c

Fineout-Overholt, E., Melnyk, B. M., Stillwell, S. B., & Williamson, K. M. (2010b). Evidence-based practice, step by step: Critical appraisal of the evidence: Part II: Digging deeper—examining the “keeper” studies. American Journal of Nursing, 110(9), 41–48. doi:10.1097/01.NAJ.0000388264.49427.f9

Fineout-Overholt, E., Melnyk, B. M., Stillwell, S. B., & Williamson, K. M. (2010c). Evidence-based practice, step by step: Critical appraisal of the evidence: Part III: The process of synthesis: Seeing similarities and differences across the body of evidence. American Journal of Nursing, 110(11), 43–51. doi: 10.1097/01.NAJ.0000390523.99066.b5

Williamson, K. M. (2009). Evidence-based practice: Critical appraisal of qualitative evidence. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 15(3), 202–207. doi:10.1177/1078390309338733

Research a company of your choice and write a six to eight (6-8) page paper in which you:

1. Evaluate a company’s recent (with in the last year) actions dealing with risk and uncertainty.
2. Offer advice for improving risk management.
3. Examine an adverse selection problem your company is facing and recommend how it should minimize its negative impact on transactions.
4. Determine the ways your company is dealing with the moral hazard problem and suggest best practices used in the industry to deal with it.
5. Identify a principal-agent problem in your company and evaluate the tools it uses to align incentives and improve profitability.
6. Examine the organizational structure of your company and suggests ways it can be changed to improve the overall profitability.
7. Use at least five (5) quality academic resources in this assignment. Note: One of your references regarding your should have been published within the last 6 months. Note: Wikipedia does not qualify as an academic resource.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

  

Module 4 – Case

STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION AND STRATEGIC CONTROLS

Assignment Overview

This final case involves an analysis of strategy implementation at Pepsico. You will use the resources you identified in the SLP to gather information about the company and relate that information to your work in the previous cases.

Required Reading

Refer to the required and optional readings related to strategy implementation and strategic controls, the themes for this module.

Case Assignment

In Module 4, we will conclude the case study process by researching Pepsico’s strategic controls and their fit with the company’s chosen strategy.

Keys to the Assignment

· Step One: Review your Case papers from Modules 1-3 so that you are familiar with the mission, vision, SWOT, strategy, and strategic choices you have identified over the course of the class.

· Step Two: Research the structure, systems, people, and culture at Pepsico. You will not be able to get answers to every single question, but you will need to answer at least one or two for each component.

· Step Three: Describe Pepsico’s organizational design, key strategic control systems (e.g., budgeting and variance analysis systems), primary human resources concerns, and cultural factors, and the effect that these have had on the implementation of Pepsico’s strategy.

· Step Four: In a 6- to 8-page paper, critically evaluate the fit—or the lack of fit—between the company’s mission, strategy, and organizational components crucial to implementation. Do these components complement the strategy? Why or why not?

· Step Five: Choose three of the 13 ethical “prescriptions” included in the following article: https://www.scu.edu/ethics/focus-areas/business-ethics/resources/incorporating-ethics-into-the-organization/ . Next, discuss the extent which the company’s sense of business ethics has been embedded within its strategic management process, as evidenced by your chosen three indicators.

· Step Six: What changes would you—as the CEO—make to better assure the success of the company’s strategy? This is the most important section of the Module 4 Case.

· Step Seven: Consider the Case as a formal business report that you are developing for the Board of Directors and CEO as Pepsico’s consultant. This is a professional document. Follow the format below:

o Executive summary: This is a synopsis of the main points, conclusions, and recommendations made in the longer report. If you would like a refresher on writing an executive summary, check this website: http://www.csun.edu/~vcecn006/summary.html

o Introduction: State the main purpose of the paper (thesis statement), what you hope to accomplish, and how you will go about doing it.

o Main Body: The “meat” of the paper. Emphasize analysis, not just description. Delineate separate topics or sections with headings.

o Conclusion: Summarize your paper in the light of your thesis statement.

 
 

Assignment Expectations

Your paper will be evaluated using the grading rubric.

Tips and Suggestions

Note the following tips and suggestions:

· Business school case-study assignments are meant to offer practice opportunities for future business people who are earning their MBA degrees. Consider yourself a consultant hired by the company to make these critical assessments. There are no right or wrong answers to the Case question, as long as your position is well defended.

· Study the theoretical concepts provided in the Background materials section of the module, and identify main strategy concepts.

· Include a cover page and reference page, in addition to the 6-8 pages of analysis described above. You must meet minimum length requirements.

· Include section headings as appropriate.

· Cite and reference all sources, including those you paraphrase. This means include citations and quotation marks for direct quotes of more than five words, and citations for information you have “borrowed” or paraphrased from other sources.

· Follow Trident Guidelines for Well-Written Papers.

· Submit your analysis by the end of this module.

Module 4 – SLP

STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION AND STRATEGIC CONTROLS

Simulation

In Module 4, you will continue with the CVP analysis you completed in the Module 3 SLP.

Scenario Continuation:

It is still January 2, 2013. You have just completed your revised SLP3 strategy using CVP analysis, and you are eager to implement your decisions for 2013 through 2016.

Using the CVP analysis from SLP3, run the simulation for a final time. Again, be sure to take notes about your analysis and document the reasoning behind your decisions.

Finalize your report showing the strategy you have used.

 
 

Assignment Overview

Using the strategy that you developed in SLP3, run the simulation. Document your results as you did previously. Review and analyze these results, and develop a final strategy.

Please turn in a 6- to 8-page paper, not including cover and reference pages.

Keys to the Assignment

The key aspects of this assignment that should be covered and taken into account in preparing your paper include:

· The revised strategy consists of the Prices, R&D Allocation %, and any product discontinuations for the W1, W2, and W3 tablets for each of the four years: 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016.

· You must present a rational justification for this strategy. In other words, you must provide support for your proposed strategy using financial analysis and relevant theories.

· Use the CVP Calculator and review the PowerPoint that explains CVP and provides some examples.

· You will need to crunch some numbers (CVP Analysis) to help you determine your prices and R&D allocations.

· Make sure your proposed changes in strategy are firmly based in this analysis of financial and market data and sound business principles. Your goal is to practice using CVP and get better at it.

· Present your analysis professionally, making strategic use of tables, charts, and graphs.

Time Line Summary:

SLP1

· 2016: Hired on December 31, 2016.

· Turned in first report to CEO Smothers.

SLP2

· You are returned – via Time Warp – to January 1, 2013.

· You make decisions for 2013 – 2016.

· December 31, 2016 – You have revised all four years, and you write up your summary report.

SLP3

· Apparently, your SLP2 decisions were not “good enough,” as you have again been returned to January 1, 2013.

· It is once again January 1, 2013: You decide to use CVP analysis to develop a revised four-year plan for your strategy. You analyze the results of your first decisions from SLP2, taking notes, and documenting your decision-making process. You use the CVP Calculator to help you develop your strategy. Your notes explaining the logic behind your decisions.

SLP4

· It is still January 1, 2013. Using your CVP analysis from SLP3, you run the simulation, implementing your revised four-year plan. You keep track of your financial and marketing results year over year.

· You submit your final 6- to 8-page report, which includes your Final Total Score.

· You compare – and report – your results with previous results.

 
 

SLP Assignment Expectations

Your paper will be evaluated using the grading rubric.

Tips and Suggestions

Note the following tips and suggestions:

You might find these downloads useful:

Decision Matrix Table – Download this Word doc with a blank table you can use to show your proposed strategy decisions.

PowerPoint discussing CVP – Provides a good overview of Cost Volume Profit analysis, the various equations that you can use, and how to use it. Some examples are provided showing how to use the CVP Calculator.

CVP Calculator – This an Excel-based calculator that you can use to determine prices, volumes, and profits. Keep in mind that it will tell you what need, but the market determines what you actually get.

· Include a cover page and a reference page, in addition to the 6-8 pages of analysis described above.

· Include appropriate section headings.

· Use charts and graphics strategically, but do not use these as “space fillers.” Include lengthy tables, etc., in an Appendix instead.

· Cite and reference all sources that you use in your work, including those that you paraphrase. This means include citations and quotation marks for direct quotes, and citations for that information which you have “borrowed” or paraphrased from other sources.

· Follow Trident Guidelines for Well-Written Papers.

 

Job discrimination (Chapter 11, pages 401-433), is the topic for this week. We will explore areas such as disparity, affirmative action policies, bias wage systems, hostile work environments, sexual harassment, and many other job discrimination topics.

For this week’s discussion, I want you to think about the concept of comparable work for comparable pay. Most companies provide a job description that details the work involved for the positions, the expected experience and education needed to properly do the work, as well as the physical abilities needed to hold the positions. The applicant is well aware of the requirements needed and makes the decision to submit an application, cover letter, and resume.

Now here is where I would like your opinion on the hiring process and the determination of the wages to possibly avoid wage discrimination based on gender.

Respond to the following:

• Post a discussion based on the following question. You might be familiar with how the television show The Voice works. The judges do not see the singer until they hear the singer and make the choice to accept the person onto their team. Do you think if all of the names were removed from all the application documents prior to presentation for candidate selection, and a set wage assigned before a face-to-face interview is held, that it would help to reduce the gender disparity in wages, as the potential for gender identity is not disclosed prior to interview selection? Explain your answer.

 

For this course, you will prepare a weeklong science unit plan. Each assignment will scaffold to create the benchmark. Each week, for each assignment, you will be completing a portion of the science unit plan.

The unit plan will be aligned to state content standards, in the areas of science and health (fitness, body, physical activity, emotional, and/or motor skills), along with a minimum of two of the following content disciplines: 

• Scientific Method
• Physical Science
• Life Science
• Earth and Space
• Engineering, Technology, and Applications of Science

Part 1: Title, Rationale, Standards, Learning Objectives, Vocabulary

The planning process, which includes defining the structure and selecting a theme that encompasses multiple areas of science in one unit, is the first step in preparing a unit plan.

When planning your unit plan, identify which concepts in science can overlap from one lesson to another. You could have more than one standard from different areas of science in each lesson.

Select a K-8 grade level and use the “Science Unit Plan” template to guide you through the   necessary steps and components.

For this assignment, complete the following components in the “Science Unit Plan” template: 

• Lesson Title, Brief Summary, and Rationale: Summarize and provide a rationale as to how each lesson can overlap multiple areas of science in one lesson and the scope/intent of the lesson.
• State-Specific Standards: List the specific grade-level standards that teach and assess science content areas.
• Learning Objectives: Write learning objectives specific to your state standards and the lesson.
• Vocabulary: Include the appropriate academic language and vocabulary that is appropriate to each lesson.

The details of the “Science Unit Plan” will continue to be fully developed and revised throughout the duration of the course, culminating in a complete unit plan due in Topic 5.

Part 2: Reflection

In 250-500 words, summarize and reflect on the process of beginning your unit plan and including multiple content areas of science in one lesson. What do you consider the most important key components of your unit plan so far? How can this process be used in your future professional practice?