OVERSEAS /Acquisitions and Integration

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BANKS Industries is a manufacturing company located in Centervale. A U.S.-based organization, BANKS’s major product line is electronics components. BANKS has just over 200 employees at their main plant in Centervale, but has recently acquired a new subsidiary in China. This acquisition adds close to 100 employees and their expertise in a new line of personal computing devices. BANKS expects these devices to give them a competitive advantage in their market.  BANKS started out as a family-owned organization that has a relatively flat organizational structure. After 15 years of being in business, BANKS continues to be family-owned and has acquired several small companies in the U.S. The acquisition of the Chinese company, which has now been renamed BANKS Components, is the first acquisition outside U.S. borders.  At this point, the acquisition is official and the company is in the process of taking over the operations of the plant in China. All employees have been retained, although turnover and some expansion are anticipated in the near future. Employees in both locations are feeling uneasy regarding potential changes, and some reorganization is going to be necessary. During the acquisition, some key employees of the Chinese company left the organization out of fear that their positions would be eliminated. This has left some upper management and director-level positions vacant, adding to the challenges that BANKS is currently facing.  As the HR manager, you report directly to the owner-president of BANKS Industries. You have a relatively small staff working under you, leaving you to make the majority of the HR recommendations and decisions on your own. You have been charged with identifying some of the challenges and issues in this new endeavor, making recommendations for action, working with employees, and several other tasks related to the acquisition.  Overseas Assignments, Acquisition & Integration  Consider the challenges of posting U.S. employees to overseas locations. You will develop a 25 – 30 slide presentation to make recommendations on the HR-related challenges. The PowerPoint presentation should include a title slide as well as a slide with references in APA format. A minimum of five scholarly references should be used, which may include direct reference to relevant laws and research. Be brief and professional on your slides, but use the notes feature to go into more detail regarding the topics. Consider your audience, so be sure that your text and background has enough contrast, that you limit animations and other distractions, and use graphs and tables where appropriate. Address the following in your presentation: •Identify and explain anticipated challenges and at least three common reasons why overseas assignments might fail. •Propose solutions for each of the reasons you identified. •Recommend special training for the employees going to China to increase their chance of success, including your justification for your recommendations citing scholarly references. •Determine how to select and train the acquired employees. Will you need to terminate some employees and hire replacements? •Identify challenges of integrating employees and issues which might create conflict. •Prepare the selection, retention, and separation plans. •Develop the new organization infrastructure; that is, the organizational chart •Address the different employment laws in each country.  Apply APA standards to citation of sources.

AMETHYST 2-2 Tightening controls

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Reply/ answer in 200 words/ 10 sentences min

 Everyone likes freedom and I’ve never met another co-worker that said they enjoy being micromanaged. That said, finding a balance between letting employees do as they wish and ensuring there are enough controls in place to maximize the work being completed can be a challenge for management. In my experience, this is very challenging. I like to keep the reigns pretty loose as long as production and timelines are met. I let my staff know that as long as we are reaching our goals I will not be following up on them and “micro managing” them. I follow up at the beginning of each week with goals and/or task for the week and wrap up the end of each week with where we are and a plan if needed. I keep it very informal and always address them as “team”. For example, I start every email or conversation if in person with Good morning/afternoon team, where are WE at in blah, blah, blah… I think it enforces that we are in this together and while I may not be working on the same things that they are, my work is part of the team’s as well. I try to be as transparent as possible as well because it’s easy for employees to think that managers just sit behind a desk “managing”, but they don’t realize the behind the scenes work that is being done. While they may not need to know everything, I do make it a point to let them know the projects I am working on as well when addressing the goals, I would like them to be working on that week. I think being to “tight” on the controls with employees does not allow them room to excel and prove their worth. Different individuals may respond differently to controls. Some may like it and some may feel threatened by it or that is is demeaning their professionalism. Either way, I think it is best to communicate with your employees and feel them out and have them provide input on how they would like to be managed. I think if they feel valued and that they are part of the team’s success then there will not be a need to tighten the controls unless absolutely needed. 

Role of Vision and Mission Statements

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In this assignment, you will learn the significance of the vision and mission statements of an organization.

Visit the websites of the following organizations and read about the organizations’ missions and visions as well as about their leaders.

Based on your research and reading, complete the following tasks in a 3- to 4-page Microsoft Word document:

  • Critically analyze the vision and mission statement of each of the five organizations.
  • For any one organization, identify its leader. Do you find the identified leader to be effective? Why or why not? Support your answer using concepts learned in the week.
  • What do you think is the greatest difficulty in achieving the vision and mission of these organizations? In other words, are the organizations’ vision and mission statements clear, concise, measurable, and realistically achievable?
  • If you were an employee or member of these organizations, would the vision and mission statements of the above mentioned organizations motivate you? Why?
  • For the selected organization, what action would you suggest to help the organization overcome the difficulties in achieving the vision and mission?

Click here to download a template that you can use to complete the assignment.

Support your responses with examples.

Cite any sources in APA format.

Benefits Of a Diverse Work Force

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Communication is of utmost importance in diverse teams. How a manager approaches a situation can determine the future direction of teamwork and ultimately the level of success achieved. When communicating with diverse teams, whether verbally, via e-mail, or in writing, managers need to consider the potential reactions as well as the intention of the message.  Review the scenario you read in M2: Assignment 1 and the discussion of possible HR actions. Based on the review, develop a 3-4 page memo to the project teams addressing the following: •Remind both managers and employees of the benefits of a culturally diverse workgroup. •Make recommendations on how to avoid scheduling issues due to the religious observance. •Explain how you arrived at your decision using relevant academic references. •Justify your suggestions by using empirical evidence and reference to any applicable laws.  Apply APA standards to citation of sources. Use the following file naming convention: LastnameFirstInitial_M2_A2.doc.  By the due date assigned, deliver your assignment to the Submissions Area.  Assignment 2 Grading Criteria   Maximum Points   Identified important benefits of diverse workgroups and persuasively presented them to the specified target audience.  40   Proposed practical suggestions on scheduling.  50   Wrote in a clear, concise, and organized manner; demonstrated ethical scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of sources; displayed accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation.  10    Total:  100

Imagine you are partnering with a progressive Middle Eastern country. In this country, there is very little separation between a worker’s religious beliefs, family, and work. Your team is on a strict deadline, and bonuses are at stake. The local employees take a midday break for two hours for prayers every day. Friday is a religious holiday, and so they do not work from 3:00 p.m. on Thursday until 8:00 a.m. on Monday. The project is due on Monday morning, and the other employees are resentful for having to work overtime.

“A” WORK PLEASE

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What is one recent news story that you have found illustrates the relationship between a business leader’s role and the success or failure of his/her business?

PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY YOU AGREE WITH MY CLASSMATE RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS? (A MINIMUM OF 100 WORDS)

                                                 CLASSMATE’S POST

Effective leadership is a key element for a successful business. Being an effective leader encompasses many things, and it is more than just delegating assignments. It requires vision, collaboration, planning, and practice. It is a lot of hard work and dedication, and most of all it requires you to believe in the product or company which you are representing. This was evident in an article I read that highlighted the accomplishments of late CEO Vaughn Beals, Jr., and how his early leadership saved Harley Davidson from financial ruin in the 1980’s. Under his supervision he slashed production costs, made factory inventories more efficient, and railed against product defects. He marketed his product to “Baby Boomers” who were itching to feel young and rebellious (Griffin, 2018). Beals and his marketing team encouraged dealers to brighten their showrooms, welcome new comers, and offer techniques on how to feature the Harley Davidson brand of merchandise. Beals and his team took feedback from customers and made necessary adjustments to their motorcycles, some of the features included comfortable and cushy seating for long drives and rubber mounted engines to reduce vibration (Griffin, 2018). Because of his relationship with his business this company flourished and the Harley Davidson brand became iconic; bike rallies became annual events for bike enthusiast and their families; and the customer loyalty they have instilled in their buyers has become legendary. 

                                                    References

Griffin, Jill. (2018). My Love Affair With Harley Davidson. Tweet This, 1-3. Retrived from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jillgriffin/2018/09/07/my-love-affair-with-harley-davidson/?ss=leadership#7a3b58ee2c5e

Strategies Presentation

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Taking on the role of a CEO, develop a PowerPoint presentation of approximately 15 slides that explains how you would adapt the Western leadership strategies of either Heifetz and Linsky or Drucker in your approach to managing an international organization on the brink of structural change and expansion.  One of your main goals will be to motivate and communicate a vision while connecting to the firm’s mission for all stakeholders, including your Board of Directors. A brief profile of the organization is as follows: •The company is a manufacturing firm with annual earnings in excess of $350 million. •It is headquartered in the United States, has two branches in the United Kingdom, and one expansion branch set to open in China. •A new branch will provide more innovative technologies to infuse the firm’s declining market share while also presenting cultural management and organizational integration challenges.  Your presentation should contain the following components: •Identification of your chosen leadership philosophy with justification of your choice. •Using Porter’s Five Forces as a strategic guide, please explain how you will approach Foreign Direct Investment and Financial Risk Assessment. •Complete a Financial Risk Assessment for acquiring the new technology company by identification and explanation of at least four risks which could impact your organization. •Identification and explanation of the key internal structures (at least 3) that will be designed to enhance the culture within your organization •Explanation of how projected global and market trends over the next 10-15 years will impact your company’s ability to maintain a competitive advantage.  Submit to the Submissions Area by the due date assigned.    Grading Criteria  Maximum Points   Identify and justify a chosen leadership philosophy.  16   Explain an approach to foreign direct investment and foreign risk assessment using Porter’s Five Forces.  36   Complete a Financial Risk Assessment for acquiring the new technology company; explain at least 4 risks which could impact the company.  36   Identify and explain the key internal structures to enhance organizational culture.  32   Explain how projected global and market trends over the next 10-15 years will impact the company’s ability to maintain a competitive advantage.  36   Written Components: Organization, usage and mechanics, APA elements, style  44   Total:  200

HEALTH POLICY RESPOND IN 150 WORDS

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The market had changed beyond the ones that were already in play began to emerge due to the passage of the Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA). The responsibilities, traditional roles, and the authority of the various stakeholders that are in healthcare now can be tested or altered with a result of some of the sections that have been printed into the ACA. A result of this is that the healthcare providers can share in the savings, take a risk, and form relationships that had been previously barred or that had been forbidden (Santilli & Vongenberg, 2015).

In the past with the older healthcare models for treating acute illnesses are now emerging quickly into a newer more advanced model that has an increasing focus on the patients, disease prevention, and the ongoing management of the chronic diseases. Now with today’s health market, it is allowing the consumers to take charge of their own healthcare in the new way. This is done by the readily accessible data and information that allows the patients to have open dialogues with their doctors to go over their diagnosis and treatment options (Santilli & Vongenberg, 2015).

In recent years, the market place has undergone many changes that had started before the ACA, and this accelerated after the passage of the ACA. there has been change that has been occurring at a very rapid rate throughout the various healthcare stakeholders. By tracking the emerging and tracing the innovative patterns in the post-ACA market place in 2014, it has led to an identification of several high-level strategic trends that will be significant (Santilli & Vongenberg, 2015). The trends that will be impacting multiple healthcare stakeholders over the next years include:

  1. Patients becoming more informed consumers
  2. Growth of structured quality measurers
  3. Revenue-driving consolidation
  4. New and alternative provider payment models
  5. Specialty drug use driving he cost of care
  6. Information technology innovations driving interstakeholder communications.

With there being a shift in the healthcare economic risk is taking place, this is being driven by the aging population and the increasing incidence of the behaviorally induced chronic conditions (Santilli & Vongenberg, 2015).

The major stakeholders that are in the healthcare system include physicians, employers, insurance companies, patients, government, and pharmaceutical companies. The interrelationship that is with the stakeholders in the healthcare system is very complex (University, 2011). This is because two stakeholders that are insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies are publicly owned corporations that are listed on the stock exchanges and their main responsibility is to maximize their stockholder’s wealth. The main goal for the employers is to make money but their provision of having health insurance for their employees is a benefit not a source of being a profit from their employees. The physicians are unlike any of the other stakeholders because they have direct duties and responsibilities that are directed towards their patients. Even though they do receive remuneration for their services, the relationship between the patient and doctor is a very sacred trust that is built that transcends to have a monetary reward (University, 2011). 

Business Ethics: Cognitive Moral Development & Conflict of Interest Issue

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 1 –Cognitive Moral Development :

SEE ATTACH PG 76 TO 80 

PAG 104: EXERCISE:Understanding Cognitive Moral Development Molly has been a local newspaper reporter for over 10 years. She learned that Joe Thompson, a candidate for governor, had been arrested for shoplifting 20 years earlier. She also learned that early in his life, Thompson went through a confused period when he did things he later regretted. The shoplifting was treated as a minor offense and removed from his record. Since then, Thompson has had a distinguished career helping people and leading important community projects. Many people consider him to be the best candidate who will likely go on to other important leadership positions. Molly wonders whether she should write a story about Joe’s earlier troubles that could

ruin his chance to win. 

Can you characterize Molly’s thinking in terms of cognitive moral development

levels? Which of the following questions represents preconventional, conventional,

and principled thinking?

& Are there any laws against writing the story?

& Would getting “the scoop” help or hurt my career?

& If I don’t publish the story, wouldn’t another reporter write the story anyway?

& What action would best serve society in the long term?

& How would my boss react if I wrote, or didn’t write, the story?

104 SECTION II ETHICS AND THE INDIVIDUAL

& Aren’t reporters expected to report all the news regardless of the circumstances?

& Would Thompson pay me not to write the story?

& Would the election process be more just with or without reporting the story?

==========================================================================

 

-Review the discussion of Cognitive Moral Development on pp. 76-80 in the text. Then read the exercise, Understanding Cognitive Moral Development on p. 104. 

A) Should Molly write a story about Joe Thompson’s earlier arrest?

B) Which of the 6 stages of Cognitive Moral Development best justifies what you think Molly should do? 

 2-  Conflict of Interest Issue :

Page 146 Short Case: CONFLICT OF INTEREST ISSUE

You’ve just cemented a deal between a $100 million pension fund and Green Company, a

large regional money manager. You and your staff put in long hours and a lot of effort to

close the deal and are feeling very good about it. As you and three of your direct reports

are having lunch in a fancy restaurant to celebrate a promotion, the waiter brings you a

phone. A senior account executive from Green is calling and wants to buy you lunch in

gratitude for all your efforts. “I’ll leave my credit card number with the restaurant

owner,” he says. “You and your team have a great time on me.”

Reference

Trevino, L.K,. & Nelson, K.A. (2014).  Managing business ethics: Straight talk about how to do it right (6th ed.). NJ, USA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

=========================================================================

Read the short case on p. 146, “Conflict of Interest Issue.” Suppose that you are one of the people invited to the lunch. Often your director would buy you and your staff lunch to celebrate the successful completion of a difficult project.

A)  Would you consider accepting a congratulatory lunch to be a conflict of interest? 

B)  Suppose that your company’s conflict of interest policy prohibits all but “small gifts identified with a vendor’s name or logo,” but does not specifically prohibit lunches. How would that impact your decision?

Reference

Trevino, L.K,. & Nelson, K.A. (2014).  Managing business ethics: Straight talk about how to do it right (6th ed.). NJ, USA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

REPLY TO CLASSMATE’S DISCUSSION

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As demand for services increase, tax rates and service fees often increase. This results in a slower rate of new development and revenue growth. Discuss a local policy example where this principle applies.

PLEASE EXPLAIN WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH MY CLASSMATE RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTION AND WHY? (A MININUM OF 125)

                                                             

                                                          CLASSMATE’S POST

The first thing that comes to mind regarding a policy example that results in a slower rate of growth is Tax Increment Financing or TIF.  TIF is used to alleviate taxes for developers in housing development.  In the small town where I live, local developers utilize tax abatement to build spec houses and sell empty lots within a community.  However, because of those tax abatements (and this particular example in my small town) that have been going on for over twenty years, the developer hasn’t necessarily expanded the tax base within that development.  The various iterations of the council have allowed extensions even if no significant work has been accomplished to finish or lure new home builders within that particular development.  This year the developer asked for ANOTHER five year tax extension with no clear plan as to how they are going to finish that development.  Unfortunately, the current council allowed the extension to happen again.  This slow rate of revenue growth not only affects the revenue sources for the city, but it affects the county and school tax base as well because they are also affected by the abatement.  This example of ‘slow rate development’ while helpful to the developer and those that have built homes within the TIF area, it should have a completion or end date.

Human Discusssion

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  1. Read Frontline:  The Gospel of Matthew: Jesus as a teacher even greater than Moses   https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/story/mmmatthew.html
  2. Read “Gospel of Matthew” in The Complete Gospels (pages 61 – 120)
  3. Watch “I Came Not to Bring Peace, But a Sword.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UKImMGiY7I&t=2s (One of the “hard sayings” of Jesus that people tend to ignore.  (Matthew 10: 34 – 39)

 

Matthew: Writing Prompt and Background Information

In The Gospel of Matthew, we have an unusually clear picture of how a gospel writer shapes his portrayal of Jesus’ life and teachings according to the writer’s particular beliefs, audience, and purpose. There are several very important examples of how Matthew is doing this in the “Introduction to The Gospel of Matthew” in your textbook. (Please read this Introduction carefully!)   Matthew is trying to make the case that Jesus represents the true and authentic line of Moses, the prophets, and Israel as a whole – over and against the other Jewish sects/groups of the time (Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, etc.).  This is why Matthew repeatedly inserts sections of scripture from the Hebrew Bible (called “Old Testament” by Christians) – to show that Jesus is the fulfillment of those ancient scriptures (even if Matthew sometimes makes a complete mess of things in the process.  For example:  Read Matthew 21:6-7 to see that Matthew has Jesus riding on both a colt and a donkey at the same time in his slightly misbegotten attempt to have Jesus fulfilling a passage found in Zechariah.)

In our Discussion Forum for Matthew, we are going to consider the Sermon on the Mount. This Sermon is one of the most beloved and well-known messages of Jesus. Our textbook says, “The famous Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5 – 7) sets forth a Christian interpretation of the Jewish Law.” But really, this statement is not quite accurate because Jesus was a Jew who was often speaking to largely Jewish audiences – and there WAS no Christianity and that time. Therefore, Jesus’ re-interpretation of Jewish Law was Jesus’ own interpretation – not a Christian interpretation (see 5:21 – 48 for examples).  And it is worth noting that sometimes Jesus’ teachings are not the same as Christian Church teachings. For example: Many churches take a very hard stand against homosexuality as being against Christian principles. However, Jesus never spoke about or against homosexuality, but he did speak constantly of love and compassion for ALL people – most especially marginalized people.

Jesus paid no attention to social or religious boundaries, he violated Jewish purity laws, and he demonstrated over and over that the compassionate spirit of God’s law is far more important than the letter of religious laws (especially given that religious laws are sometimes cruel and exclusionary).  Clearly, Jesus was opposed to hypocrites of every size, shape, and color and he called his followers to live according to higher standards.

Writing Prompts:

Please read Chapters 5 – 7 very carefully, and then do the following:

  1. Write a summary (including chapter and verse) of how Jesus says we should live and how we should not live.  What things are necessary and what things are not necessary?
  2. What are some of Jesus’ main points (including chapter and verse) about religious hypocrisy?