Scenario
Scenario Summary
An Atlanta based Fortune 500 Company has recently hired you as a Human Resource Manager. You are in charge of hiring new sales consultants for the fiber optics division of this organization. Due to the competitive marketplace, sales and revenues are at an all-time low. During your interview, you stated that you could serve as a valuable asset to this company. You noted your long-standing history of selecting the best candidates for sales positions and stated that you could bring the sales division back to its place as the leading resource of your organization. You want to perform well at this job because you have been unemployed for 12 months and need to pay off your consolidated debt in order to avoid bankruptcy.
Your Role
Your job is to hire a sales manager to sell your latest fiber optics to leading wireless manufacturers of five key companies. This job requires that the sales representative be articulate, sophisticated, and knowledgeable about fiber optics. The job requires travel Monday through Friday in order for the sales representative to work with those in the prospective company. This job also includes spending leisure time after 5:00 P.M. with prospective clients.
Your Assignment
Required: Read the case summary and accompanying character descriptions, then answer the following question:
Who would you hire for this position and why?
Please state and explain your decision in a one-page summary. Make sure to include a title page. In your summary, be sure to reference course material (readings, lectures, or concepts from the flash cards).
Grading Rubric:
Category
Points
Description
Understanding20Demonstrate a strong grasp of the challenge involved in choosing a candidate. Demonstrate understanding of how the course concepts apply to the decision presented.
Analysis20Apply careful thought to selecting a candidate. Apply concepts from the course material to justify selection.
Execution10Clearly and succinctly writes answer using strong organization and proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Citations are in APA format.
Total50A quality paper will meet or exceed all of the above requirements.
KEY PLAYERS
Jake, CPA Changing to Sales
.equella.ecollege.com/file/bb980e97-99ab-4984-84cd-20ca312b28ac/1/SOCS350_W3_YouDecide.html#top”>Back to TopAs my resume states, I was an accountant but have made a career switch to sales. I think working with people in sales would be more interesting than sitting at a desk all day crunching numbers. I am single and want to devote time to my career in order to be successful.
Lynn, IT Manager
.equella.ecollege.com/file/bb980e97-99ab-4984-84cd-20ca312b28ac/1/SOCS350_W3_YouDecide.html#top”>Back to TopAs my resume states, I was a math major and I minored in computer analysis. I am very good with people and I am working on improving my English-speaking skills. I graduated first in my class and I wrote a paper on fiber optics in relation to cell towers that was recently published in a peer-reviewed journal. I am a leading expert in the fiber optics field.
Karen, Sales Representative
.equella.ecollege.com/file/bb980e97-99ab-4984-84cd-20ca312b28ac/1/SOCS350_W3_YouDecide.html#top”>Back to TopAs my resume states, I have been in sales for five years. I have been awarded the Sales Representative of the Year at my last company. Currently I am relocating to Atlanta because I will be getting married next month. My credentials are stellar and I graduated at the top of my class in fiber optic engineering.
Jyoti, Manager of Wireless Retail Store
.equella.ecollege.com/file/bb980e97-99ab-4984-84cd-20ca312b28ac/1/SOCS350_W3_YouDecide.html#top”>Back to TopI began assisting in sales at my last job and did extremely well. I managed a wireless phone companys regional sales office. I trained salespeople and due to my expertise in sales, their revenues rose 60% last year. I am looking to expand into corporate sales because I know that I am an expert at sales and have a solid foundation in what customers want from their cellular service. I am single, therefore I am available to travel and work long hours.
YOU DECIDE
Activity
Note!
Submit your assignment to the Dropbox located on the silver tab at the top of this page. For instructions on how to use the Dropbox
Course Project
.next.ecollege.com/%28NEXT%2870b7e0007a%29%29/Main/AuthorMode/NonManagedVizedHtmlProf/VizedHtmlView.ed?courseItemSubId=451733117&courseItemType=CourseContentItem″>Overview and Guidelines |.next.ecollege.com/%28NEXT%2870b7e0007a%29%29/Main/AuthorMode/NonManagedVizedHtmlProf/VizedHtmlView.ed?courseItemSubId=451733117&courseItemType=CourseContentItem″>Scenarios |.next.ecollege.com/%28NEXT%2870b7e0007a%29%29/Main/AuthorMode/NonManagedVizedHtmlProf/VizedHtmlView.ed?courseItemSubId=451733117&courseItemType=CourseContentItem″>Grading Rubrics |.next.ecollege.com/%28NEXT%2870b7e0007a%29%29/Main/AuthorMode/NonManagedVizedHtmlProf/VizedHtmlView.ed?courseItemSubId=451733117&courseItemType=CourseContentItem″>Best Practices
Overview and Guidelines
An important part of our course is researching information on diversity and multiculturalism and its social, cultural, and ethical impact upon individual citizens, groups of people, and society at large.
Below are four scenarios pertaining to cultural diversity. For this assignment, you will prepare a research paper that focuses on one of these scenarios, analyzing what happened, what the consequences either are or might be, and how the situation can be corrected and or prevented in the future. These must be concrete suggestions that could actually be implemented rather than vague references or opinions. While the situations have been fictionalized, there have been actual situations that are very similar. You will submit the report in three sections throughout the course, with a due date for each section. These due dates are posted on the Course Schedule.
The Course Project should be six to eight pages in length, with an additional Title page and Reference page(s). The Reference page should include a minimum of four different scholarly, academically accepted books and/or journals used. Do not use Wikipedia and similar encyclopedia websites, such as about.com or buzzle.com. Please review the detailed instructions for each phase of the project, which you can find in the Assignment tab for that week. Your project will be graded as follows.
Week 2: Students will submit the research paper topic proposal. 25 points
Week 4: Students will submit the reference list and outline of their research paper. 75 points
Week 7: Students will submit the final version of their research paper. 150 points
APA Style Tutorial
.next.ecollege.com/ec/Courses/13775/CRS-DVUO-2148869/SSO/hub2/sso.html?node=272″>APA Guidelines for Citing Sources
Click on the link above to view the video.
This video will give you a quick introduction to APA guidelines for citing sources. Highlights include purposes of citing, guidelines and examples of how to cite sources in text and at the end of a paper, and how to format a reference list or an entire paper.
The assignment must be placed ONLY in the Dropbox. E-mailed submissions will not be accepted.
Dropbox
Submit your assignment to the Dropbox located on the silver tab at the top of this page. For instructions on how to use theDropbox, read these .next.ecollege.com/ec/Courses/13775/CRS-DVUO-2148869/SSO/hub2/sso.html?node=184″>step-by-step instructions or watch this .next.ecollege.com/ec/Courses/13775/CRS-DVUO-2148869/SSO/hub2/sso.html?node=232″>Dropbox Tutorial.
See the Syllabus section “Due Dates for Assignments & Exams” for due date information.
ScenariosHere are potential scenarios. If you happen to be familiar with an actual incident, you may request it as your scenario, pending my approval.
You have been asked to look into a company’s promotion policy. Maria, a person of Honduran ancestry, has filed a complaint that she was unfairly eliminated for consideration for a promotion because of her distinctive accent. She is a second generation native-born American citizen with a graduate degree, and has been with the company for 10 years and in her current position for 7. Alex, the person who received the promotion, is an Anglo, also has a graduate degree, but has less time either with the company or in the position. He is, however, considered to be an “up and comer” and has better job evaluations than Maria. Maria points out that she is not only the only Latina, she is the only person of color and the only woman in the department. She claims that her lower evaluations reflect a built-in bias on the part of her White male supervisors. She also states that she was told by her supervisor that she was not being promoted because he feared that their clients would have trouble understanding her accent. She alleges that the company is engaging in discriminatory practices.
The company argues that Maria is a good employee but is often loud and aggressive in her approach to co-workers and supervisors and has had some problems with attendance and tardiness. She has been counseled twice by her supervisor for tardiness, and once for absence. Each time she gave family problems as reasons. She explained that in each case a family member needed help and it was her duty to be there for the family member. When the issue of accent was introduced, it was acknowledged that it was a major consideration but was not because of discrimination. Maria often spoke very rapidly, and her accent made understanding difficult when she did. The company alleges that the ability to communicate clearly was an essential component of the job in question. Evaluate the situation. Are there indications of structural or individual discrimination involved or prejudicial attitudes? Is there any indication that Maria was unfairly treated? Is the company within its rights to expect its employees who communicate directly with customers to speak in unaccented English? Regardless of your findings, come up with a plan to avoid this sort of thing from happening again.
According to the U.S. Justice Department, in 2003 about 10.4% of all African American men between the ages of 25 to 29 were incarcerated, as compared to 2.4% of Hispanic men and 1.2% of non-Hispanic White men. What is going on here? Why are Black men in this age group so much more likely to be in jail than are people of White or Latino descent? Research the incidents of criminal prosecution, convictions, prison sentences, and time served by race and ethnicity for all threeAfrican American, Hispanic, and White men. What factors or variables are associated with who gets involved in crime, why, and what happens to them in the criminal justice system? Also look into how many judges, lawyers, and lawmakers are White compared with those who are African American. What does this tell us about structured inequality?
Islam is a highly controversial and sensitive issue in today’s world, and there are many misconceptions about its beliefs, values, and goals. For example, many Americans believe that most Muslims live in the Middle East, while in reality Indonesia has many more people of the Islamic faith. What this means is that Islam, like Judaism and Christianity, is practiced in many different cultures, and it both shapes and is shaped by those cultures. For this assignment, research the teachings of Islam and how they are interpreted and or practiced in different countries and cultures, including the United States, Great Britain, the Middle East, India, Pakistan, and other Asian countries. Additionally, how is it contrasted with Christianity and Judaism? How do these understandings impact the ways that Muslims and non-Muslims interact and communicate with one another?
Same-sex marriage is a relevant and recent topic, and one that is now becoming a workplace issue as well as a religious and a legal issue. What are the current laws regarding same-sex marriage? Moreover, what are the legal benefits of marriage that cohabiting or domestic partnership arrangements do not offer? How are these benefits (or lack of benefits) manifest in today’s workplace? You will be able to find issues related to health insurance, mortgage and retirement plans, and you are invited to see how the laws have changed in recent years. What is the relevance of this topic to patient care?
Grading Rubrics
Week 2: Project Proposal
CategoryPoints%Description
Content1040Discusses which topic scenario has been chosen and why, and how the topic is important to the study of cultural diversity.
Research Goals and Plan1040Describes what the student expects to find and or what the students would be interested in learning; describes how the student plans to go about his or her research.
Organization and Editing312Proposal is well written, well organized, and free from errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
Formatting28Proposal is in correct APA format, with a Title page.
Total25100A quality paper will meet or exceed all of the above requirements.
Week 4: Reference List and Outline
CategoryPoints%Description
Outline and Organization3547Outline lists the main topics the project will cover and incorporates the key elements of the chosen topic scenario; outline is clearly written and wellorganized.
Reference List3040Reference list contains at least four credible sources.
Formatting1013Submission is in correct APA format, with a Title page.
Total75100A quality paper will meet or exceed all of the above requirements.
Week 7: Final Paper
CategoryPoints%Description
Content10570.2Addresses each component of the chosen topic scenario, integrating concrete examples and strategies, and uses information from sources to support points.
Documentation & Formatting1510Follows correct APA format, including a Title page and reference page with at least four credible sources.
Organization & Cohesiveness106.6Cohesive and wellorganized, with a clear introduction and a conclusion that summarizes the papers key points.
Editing106.6Uses proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
Length106.6Meets minimum length requirement of six to eight pages of text.
Total150100A quality paper will meet or exceed all of the above requirements.
Best Practices
The following are best practices in preparing this project.
Include a Title page in APA format. For information on APA formatting, please see the APA reference materials located in your Syllabus.
Include an introductory paragraph that introduces your chosen scenario and previews the main topics your paper will cover.
Include a concluding paragraph that summarizes your main points and the benefits of learning about the issues youve discussed.
Use headers to organize your paper and divide into sections as appropriate.
Include a Reference page in APA format, with at least four credible sources.
Check to be sure youve covered all the questions posed in your topic scenario and that youve provided clear strategies for problems that have been presented.
AssignmentReflection on Diversity
Choose one of the following topics to discuss. Reflect upon your chosen topic in a one- to two-page essay, double-spaced, in APA format. Make sure to include a title page. Based on the topic you choose, describe what the experience was like, how it made you feel and think, and what you learned from it. Connect your discussion to at least three concepts, examples, and/or quotes from the course readings or lectures.
Explore a time when you felt like “other”when you were made to feel invisible, excluded, or too visible.
Explore a time when you perceived someone or some group as “other” (when you noticed someone or some group was outside or excluded).
Explore a time when a connection was made between you and an “other.”
Submit your assignment to the Dropbox located on the silver tab at the top of this page
assignment 1
AssignmentLet’s Be Lefties for a Day!
This assignment is designed to shift your viewpoint just a bit and hopefully help make clear what it is like to be different from the mainstream of society, as well as how the perception of normality is based on how closely you resemble the majority of people. There are two concepts at work. One is institutionalized discrimination, in which groups or categories of people are placed at some level of disadvantage by the normal way that society operates. The other is the fact that we can learn to appreciate that differences do matter and that becoming aware of those differences will make interactions with others much easier.
Spend a morning living in a world that is designed for someone else. Here’s how: Hold a ping-pong ball or a similar object in your right hand (left if you are a lefty) and then slip a sock over it and tie or tape it in place. Keep your fingers folded around the ball inside the sock and try to go about your normal activities. The two main things you want to avoid are letting the ball get out of your closed hand and getting the sock wet.
Most of us are right-handed, and this should give you some sense of how much of our daily activities revolve around that fact. When you must use your left hand rather than your right, things seem to be a bit awkward, don’t they? If you want a real example, try to use a wall-mounted pencil sharpener, open a bottle of wine with a corkscrew, or turn the pages of a book. Are lefties at a disadvantage? Go price a set of left-handed golf clubs. Naturally, left-handed people have adapted to the right-handed world to the extent that most are ambidextrous.
Lefties, what did you get from this? Did your life become just a bit easier?
Your assignment is to write a brief two- to three-page essay paper, double-spaced, on the importance of understanding cultural, ethnic, and gender differences by managers and professionals in a business setting. Connect your observations and ideas to the materials and readings covered so far in the class. Don’t forget to include your experience with the ball and sock experiment in your paper, and be sure to relate the experiment to the importance of understanding diversity and applying this knowledge in the workplace. Please follow APA formatting requirements for this assignment, including a title page, and proofread to be sure that you have no spelling or grammatical errors.
Submit your
